Keeping Score [One-Shot]
Summary: After hearing you begging Steve to pretend to be your fake boyfriend to keep your family off your back, Bucky quickly jumps at the chance to play your boyfriend even though you’re a hundred percent sure he hates you. What could possibly go wrong?
Pairings: Bucky Barnes x Reader (Fake-Dating AU)
Warnings: Bucky being an adorable shit. That’s all.
A/N: This is for @littledarlinhavefaithinme Marvelous Writing Challenge. Happy Birthday, darling!! My prompt was Fake Dating & “Look, I’ll give you $50 if you come with me to my family’s barbeque tomorrow so they’ll stop asking me when I’ll get a boyfriend.” Moodboard by @lokissoul.
This weekend your sister was having her engagement party and you couldn’t be happier for her. There was no one you were happier for. Really. She found love and all that great, beautiful, wonderful, stupid bullshit. Great. Good for her. Deep down you were actually very happy for her. It was just deep, deep down. Attending her wedding meant you had to sit through an entire weekend of your family asking why you were still single and if you thought you would ever find someone who would want to marry you. It would be an entire year of event after event and you dreaded every single moment.
From the moment she told you she was engaged you decided there was no way in hell you were going alone. Even if you had get down on your knees and beg, you weren’t going alone. At this point, you weren’t above paying a stranger to pretend to be your boyfriend. Before you resorted to hiring someone from the sketchy section of the newspaper, you were going to beg your best friend until he felt so guilty he had to take you.
“Please, Steve. Please!”
You sat up on the couch, your knees sinking into the cushions as you clutched his arms in an attempt to keep him from walking away. “You don’t understand how awful it is. The constant questions and the judgment.”
Steve smiled down at you in amusement but shook his head.
“I would go if I could. I can’t. I’ve got that meeting with the gallery in SoHo. I can’t miss it. You know I can’t.”
Ugh, right. You had forgotten about that.
The slam from Bucky’s bedroom door made you glance up in time to see Bucky’s fists clenched at his side and didn’t miss the soft groan that fell from his lips when he spotted you. You had no idea what you did to piss off Steve’s roommate, but for whatever reason, he couldn’t stand you. It wasn’t like he was so great. Just a big, cranky pouty jerk who brought home countless women, and wasn’t attractive at all.
He was just another unattractive jerk with beautiful blue eyes.
You tore your eyes from Bucky and looked back at Steve, mumbling under your breath as you endeavored to bait him, “I guess I can call one of those escort things.”
Steve’s eyes went wide and his ‘dad voice’ came out in full effect. “Uh, Y/n. No. You’re not allowed to pay some stranger to go on a date with you. I’d spend the whole weekend worried you were with some creep and I would end up having to cancel my show when you get murdered.”
Bucky came around the corner with a freshly opened beer and grinned at you, a snarky and slightly satisfied twist to his lips you didn’t like. “What?” He teased. “Can’t get a date on your own? You gotta trick them with cash?”
“For your information,” you snarked, narrowing your eyes at him as you sat back down with a huff. “I have to go to my sister’s engagement party this weekend. I need someone who can pretend to be my boyfriend. Not some random hook up. I’ve never had a problem in that department; thank you very much.”
Bucky’s eyes darkened a fraction before he rolled them dramatically and dropped down on the loveseat across from you. You didn’t have time to go back and forth with Bucky. This was your last chance! You stared up at Steve from the couch, serious look in her eyes. You were scraping the bottom of the pot at this point and you you only had one more to play. “Look, I’ll give you $50 if you come with me to my family’s barbeque,” you told him. ”I can’t handle another dinner where spend the entire night asking me when I’ll get a boyfriend.”
“Woah, Woah!” Bucky shouted as he jumped up and walked over to where you were kneeling on the couch. “If you’re paying someone, I’ll go.”
Steve quirked his brow at his roommate, and Bucky shrugged. “Need the cash, Stevie. Not all of us are famous artists, okay?”
“You want to pretend to be my boyfriend?” You asked in disbelief. “You can’t even stand to be in the same room as me, and you want to pretend that you’re madly in love with me?”
Steve laughed so hard he nearly doubled over. He patted Bucky on the shoulder as he stood back up, grinning at the brunette as if he knew some secret you weren’t in on. “Bucky is a great actor. After this weekend, you might even think he is actually in love with you,” Steve joked and Bucky didn’t find it very funny.
Bucky yanked his shoulder away from Steve, grumbling, “Freaking punk. Wait…” His head snapped back to you. “The whole weekend? You said a barbeque!”
You smiled sweetly. If he wanted to play boyfriend you were than willing to torture him for the weekend. “Well,” you drawled with a mischievous look in your eye. “The barbeque is for my sister’s engagement, but we would have to go the whole weekend. It’s in Bar Harbor. In Maine. It’s like a nine-hour drive from Brooklyn, so we would have to leave Friday morning and do the whole weekend with my family.”
“Fine, but I want a hundred and fifty. Fifty bucks a day.”
“What?!” You screeched.
“Hey!” Bucky snapped and pointed his finger at you. “I have to pretend to be in love with you for three days. That’s worth than fifty bucks.”
“Two days.” You countered, glaring at him. “Friday is all driving, and Sunday we are leaving after lunch.”
Bucky groaned but nodded in agreement. “Okay. A seventy-five bucks plus unlimited road trip snacks and you got a deal.”
“Fine.” You, agree, shaking his outstretched hand with a forced smile. “Deal.“
Your feet were resting on the dash of Bucky’s car, tapping along to the song drifting through the speakers. “So,” you murmured as you bit off a piece of a gummy worm. “How did we meet?”
Bucky glanced at you over his sunglasses. There was a flash of something in his eyes you couldn’t quite place and he quickly looked back at the road before you could figure out what it was.
“I don’t know,” Bucky answered, swatting at your feet. “Why don’t you just tell me what to say and I’ll say it. Can you get your freakin’ feet off the dash?”
“Are you always grumpy, or is it just around me?,” you asked, not expecting an answer. You slid your feet off the dash and sat up straight, setting the bag of sweets between you while you come up with something believable. You didn’t really know what a first date with Bucky would be like. You’ve dreamt about it. You’d be lying if you said you hadn’t. He was gorgeous and when he wasn’t being a complete dickhead he was actually pretty funny. He didn’t really do much other than get pizza and write. Your eyes lit up as you remembered an article you read about the best places in Manhattan.
“How about we met through Steve because that’s not a total lie, and we’ve been dating for just a few months. We were friends first, then you asked me out and took me to Per Se. The night ended with a carriage ride around Central Park. We’ve been hooked at the hip ever since.”
Bucky grimaced and shook his head. “No. Absolutely not. That’s not our story.”
“What?” You shrieked with a soft laugh. “What do you mean that’s not our story.”
“No one is going to believe that.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’m a struggling writer for one,” he said matter-of-factly. “I don’t have the cash to take to you to Per Se and there is no fuckin’ way I’m taking you to Per Se even if I had the cash. It’s not your taste.”
You crossed your arms over your chest, pouting. “You don’t know anything about my taste James Barnes.”
He rolled eyes and glanced at you before settling his eyes back on the road. It was quiet for a few minutes before Bucky finally spoke. “Our first date was at Cacao Park in Red Hook. We did the chocolate and whiskey tour because you have an unusual obsession with chocolate, like an unhealthy love for it, and I’m never gonna pass up whiskey. After that, we grabbed dinner at Table 87 because their pizza is fuckin’ amazing. We walked along the Heights Promenade till dark, and then I took you home on the back of my bike because even though you say it scares you, you like how it feels to be a little out of control for once.”
For someone who acted like he hated you, Bucky sure knew how to get your heart thumping. You weren’t sure you could plan a date for yourself and have it end up that perfect. Bucky hit everything. Although you’re not sure, you agree with the whole bike thing. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if you could hold onto Bucky. Maybe. You blinked a few times before turning to look at him.
“You just planned that all now? How the hell did you plan that so fast, and what makes you think I would like all that anyway?”
His sunglasses were back over his eyes and he was doing everything he could to keep you from seeing his face while still keeping his eyes on the road. Even with all that, you could tell he was nervous about something.
“You pretend to like all that fancy shit,” Bucky said finally. “For your friends and your parents, but I know that’s not you. You want something simple. Someone who is gonna give you their attention. You like touch. Pretty easy to spot when you’re cuddled up with Steve all the time. You want someone’s time and affection. You want to be able to relax and laugh with them. The price tag doesn’t matter if it feels real.”
You sat back in your seat and looked out the window at a lost for words. You had no idea what just happened but whatever it was had your heart hammering in your chest.
“Okay.” You whispered, barely above the music. “That can be our story.”
When you pulled up to your parent's place you could have sworn Bucky was agitated. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack any minute. He kept fidgeting with the dark blue button-up shirt you picked out for him and he must have pulled his hair in and out of bun at least ten times. He finally ended up leaving it down and tucked behind his ears like you had suggested to begin with. At one point, you even heard him grumble: They aren’t gonna like me. I look like an accountant!
Of course, your sister’s fiancé was an accountant. You tried to calmly point that out to Bucky, but that only seemed to stress him out more because he was ‘just a broke writer.’ You couldn't really get why he was nervous. It wasn’t like any of this was real. At the end of the weekend, if your entire family hated him it wouldn’t make a difference.
All of this was one big façade, and he would be back to hating you by Monday morning.
You were about to point that fact out to him when your parents came rushing out of the house tackling you in a huge hug. You laughed and made yourself as small as you could to fit in the middle of their double bear hug, catching a glimpse of Bucky fondly watching the display before him. After a few minutes you managed to wiggle your way out of your parent's hold and reached for Bucky’s hand, which he immediately took and brought up to his lips for a quick kiss to your knuckles.
Real smooth. You had to admit that it was a nice touch. Bucky was a real charmer.
“Mom. Dad.”
You smile at them and look back at Bucky, crinkling your nose affectionately at him. “This is James Barnes. My… boyfriend.”
Man, was that weird to say.
Your dad stepped forward and held out his hand, playfully eyeing him. “James.”
“Just Bucky, sir. No one, but my ma calls me James.” He shook his hand and kissed the back of your mother’s hand.
“Bucky? That’s an unusual name.” Your mother was starting already. Here we go. “When did the two of you meet?”
“Mom!” You snapped as gently as you could. “Can we get inside and put our bags down before you start to interrogate him, please?”
Bucky chuckled and pressed a kiss to your temple. “It’s alright, darlin’. How about I grab our bags, and then you can spend the rest of the night questioning me?”
“Oh, I like him already, sweetheart.” She winked at Bucky and waved for him to follow her. “Come on. I’ll show you where the two of you are gonna be sleeping.”
He gave your hand a light squeeze before letting go to grab your bags, following your mom into the house, leaving you alone with your dad.
“So, Bucky, huh?”
You glanced up at your dad and smiled, wrapping your arm around his waist. “Don’t be too hard on him. Let’s not scare him off before Aunt Lydia gets a hold of him, okay? I kind of want to see him try to dodge her kisses.”
He stuck out his tongue in disgust at the thought, his arm landed around your shoulders, and he guided you into the house. “Always on the mouth with that one. I swear. Well, if he can survive those, he’s the one baby. Don’t let him go.”
The entire dinner went off without a hitch. Of course, it was just the pre-game. The opener before the front-runner goes on. The big event was tomorrow. Tonight he only had to impress, or fool, your parents and your sister. That would be nothing compared to the number of judgmental family members he had to win over and convince tomorrow. It shouldn't be too hard. Bucky was great at pretending he didn’t actually hate you every other day of the year. He even managed to convince your mother that he was hopelessly in love with you.
“A whiskey and chocolate tour?” She wrinkled her nose. “Don’t they have hundreds of nice restaurants in New York.”
You opened your mouth to tell her how rude that was. You loved your first date, and she could shut the hell up! Well, it wasn’t actually your first date, but you loved that idea for a first date. Before you could tell her to quit being a prude, Bucky laughed and gently pulled you into his side, tucking you under his arm.
“There are lots of good places, but they are all the same. Nothing unique about ‘em. And, Y/n is anything but ordinary, so I wasn’t about to take her on some ordinary date she’s been on before.” He looked at you, smiling fondly. The warmth and softness in his eyes had your heart racing. Has he always looked at you like that?
Nope, it was all fake. It’ was fake. Fake. Fake. Fake!.
You were so wrapped up in the way he was looking at you that you didn’t even hear your parents telling you they were heading up to bed. You only noticed because your dad flicked the lights off in the living room, leaving you alone in the dark.
“Save it for the bedroom kids.” Your father snarked on his way towards their bedroom. Bucky chuckled and stood up, holding his hand out for yours.
“Come on, beautiful. We should probably get some sleep too. Tomorrow is the big day.” His fingers laced with yours, and he tugged you along towards your bedroom upstairs, and you could have sworn he blushed when you took his hand.
Fake! Fake! Fake!
The door to your bedroom closed behind you, and you both relaxed, letting go of the tension from having to put on the big show. Bucky slowly let go of your hand and kicked his shoes off before he began digging through his suitcase. He pulled his sweats out of the bag and tossed them on the queen bed in the middle of the room.
Did he actually think you were sleeping together? He was, sadly, mistaken.
“Uh, what do you think you’re doing?” You ask, gesturing towards his sweats.
“Gettin’ ready for bed. What does it look like I’m doing?”
“You can’t sleep in here. There is only one bed.”
Bucky unbuttoned the last button on the shirt that you had forced him to wear this morning in an attempt to please your parents. It was the very same shirt he later panicked about, and your mother had complimented him on. He let his shirt hang open as he slowly sauntered towards you. You couldn’t help but stare at his naked chest, peeking out from the opening in his shirt.
Your mouth had gone completely dry, and your room felt hot.
He curled his finger under your chin and titled your head, pulling your eyes from his chest. Bucky licked his lips and smirked at the want in your eyes and smirked. “Okay, darlin’. You go downstairs and ask your mom if there is another room for the boyfriend you’re so madly in love with.”
You stomped your feet and groaned, “Fine. Fine.”
Bucky grinned and gently brushed his knuckles down your arm. “Come on, Y/n. It won’t be so bad.”
So he could be sweet under all that cocky bravado.
“As long as you don’t snore like a freight train.”
And he was back.
“You’re such a jerk.” You grumbled as you push him away from you, slipping your sweatshirt on over your t-shirt. There was no way you were getting naked in front of him. You narrowed your eyes as he watched you and motioned for him to turn around. Bucky rolled his eyes and turned around while you did the same. You both got dressed in silence with your back turned towards each other.
“Did you ever stop to wonder that maybe that’s why you don’t have a girlfriend? Maybe if you were nicer, you wouldn’t have just had a whole weekend free to pretend to be someone’s boyfriend. You could actually be the boyfriend.”
“I’ve got plenty of women to spend my nights with. Ever think maybe I don’t want more than that?” He asked as he climbed into bed and pulled the blanket down for you to get in.
The thought of Bucky spending his nights with a horde of different women sent a stab of jealousy into your chest, and you didn’t like that one bit. You shouldn’t be jealous if he were sleeping with every woman in Brooklyn, He’ was not yours, and you didn’t even like him! He was rude and selfish and dumb and handsome and sweet, and somehow he was the absolute softest when he thought you weren’t paying attention.
“You gonna come to bed or just stare at me?”
He just had to go and run it every chance he got. Your eyes narrowed at him as you laid down on the bed in your childhood bedroom, staying as close to the edge as you could without falling off or touching him.
“You’re taking up too much of the bed... “ You grumbled as he pulled the blanket up to your neck, hiding your chest.
Bucky sighed and shoved you just a tad with his hip. “I’m all the way at the edge. How much further do you want me to go?”
You nudged him his your foot and smiled. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
He wiggled over and bumped you with his hip, nearly making you fall off the bed.
“Hey!” You snapped in a harsh whisper.
“This is ridiculous. C‘mere.” Bucky reached over and pulled you against him, so your arms were smashed up against each other.
“It’s for two nights. Just pretend the sight of me doesn’t make you sick so we can sleep, okay?” The pained tone in his voice made your heartache. Did he really think the sight of him made you sick?
“You don’t make me sick, Buck…”
There was a long stretch of quiet before you heard a soft, “I meant what I said to your mom tonight. You’re anything but ordinary, Y/n.”
---------------------
There were soft laughter and buzz of excited chatter coming through the thin walls of your parent's home as you began to stir early Saturday morning. The air around you was thick, and you were hot for some reason. It wasn’t this hot when you went to bed. You stretched as the smell of coffee slipped through the crack under the door, and you sighed contently.
It was nice to be back home. You only manage to go home once or twice a year, so it wasn’t so bad waking up to your dad’s loud booming laugh every now and then. You rolled over to bury your face in your pillow, but it wasn’t your pillow. Two massive arms wrapped around you and tightened their hold on your waist -- That was right. You went to bed with Bucky.
As if on cue, Bucky buried his face in your hair and took a deep inhale of your shampoo. Your entire body stiffened as his hands settled on your lower back. This was why you didn’t want to sleep in the same bed!
His-- his hands!
You slowly rolled to your side, not even bothering to fight the smile tugging at your lips. Bucky’s dark locks were laying over his face, his scruff had grown in just a touch more, and you caught little strands of grey standing out among the dark brown. He looked so peaceful it was almost painful to wake him. You shifted towards him, and his arms tightened around you again.
“Buck…” You whispered, brushing his hair out of his face and tucking it behind his ear. His nose wrinkled as the strands tickled him, making you bite back a giggle.
“Hey. It’s morning, Bucky.” You tried a bit louder. “It’s time to get up.” Your foot wrapped around his leg as you nudged him gently. Bucky slowly stirred and rolled onto his back, releasing you so his hand could rub the sleep out of his eyes.
“I never thought you would want…” He mumbled still half-asleep and eyes closed. “Thought you always… With Stevie.”
What in the world was he talking about? You placed your hand on his jaw, making him look at you. “Are you awake yet? I have no idea what you’re mumbling about, but we have to go down and see my parents. The party is today.”
The hand on your waist suddenly tensed and was quickly pulled off you. Bucky opened his eyes to find you lying nearly on top of him, and he scrambled out of bed, pulling his arm out from under your head. He was up and out of bed so fast his legs were still tangled in the sheets, and it had him hopping towards the bedroom door as he tried to get himself untangled.
“I-- I um, I’m sorry about that. I was asleep, and I sleep like a damn koala. I didn’t know what I was doing or sayin’...”
You did your best to hide the hurt on your face. Jesus, he hated you that much that waking up with you made him fly to the other side of the room in disgust?
“O-oh. Okay.”
What else should you say? Sorry that I completely grossed you out, and I’m sorry you were stuck spending the rest of the day pretending to be hopelessly in love with me when you were clearly repulsed by me? You just sat in silence as you watched him gather up his clothes and scurry into the bathroom.
He couldn’t get away from you fast enough.
When Bucky met you at the top of the stairs ten minutes later showered and dressed, he was back to his calm and collected self. His hair was slicked back, and he was wearing his leather jacket over one of the several button-up shirts you bought for him to wear this weekend. That little bit of time away from you clearly did him well.
His eyes fell onto the light blue knee-length wrap dress you had on, and it looked like he had the wind knocked out of him. He whistled lowly and shot you a wolfish grin.
“Damn. You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
You wanted to be mad at him, upset that he needed to be away from you so badly he ran from the room, but it was hard to be mad when he was looking at you like that. Your shaking hands smoothed over your dress. “Oh, um. Thank you.” You glanced around you, but no one was there. It was just two of you as you took each step of the stairs in unison.
“There is no one around. You don’t have to pretend right now.”
“I wasn’t pretending.” He whispered into your ear as you reach the end of the stairs. Despite the ache in your chest from earlier, you didn’t have to force your smile. He smiled back, and was that blush on his cheeks?
No, no. No, it’s just hot in here. Really, really hot in here.
“Game face on, babydoll.”
“There are the love birds.” Your mother sang happily as the two of you entered the kitchen, handing you both a cup of coffee.
“You would think we were all here for your wedding, not your sisters.” You choked on your coffee and looked up at your mother, eyes wide and panicked.
“Mom! You can’t just say that…”
Bucky chuckled and pressed a kissed to your temple.
“Not like I haven’t thought about being married to you, doll.” He whispered so softly it was clearly meant for your ears only, but you knew your mother heard it.
“I guess I’ll see what the men are doing out back? See you in a little bit, sugar.” He winked at you and headed out back, leaving you completely stunned.
Why on earth would he say that if he had only intended on you hearing it? Or maybe he knew your mom could hear his whispers. Yeah, that had to be it. He wanted it to seem like a sweet moment between a happy couple. It was part of the facade for your family.
Entirely and utterly fake.
“The way he looks at you, baby… It’s only a matter of time before it’s your turn.”
Your head snapped back to look at your mother.
‘What? No. No.” You stuttered helplessly, trying to find a reason to deny what she was saying. There would be no wedding, and in a few weeks, she was going to have to say they broke up. There would never be a wedding. Not with him, at least.
“He doesn’t look at me like that. It’s not like that. He just doesn’t - I’m not.” Your mother raised her brow, and you sighed in defeat. “I mean, like that right now. We are not ready. I think that step is a long time away.”
“Maybe you’re not ready, but he’s ready. You can see how much he loves you every time he looks at you, sweetheart. You can’t force that kind of affection.”
You turn your head to find Bucky already watching you from outside, laughing at what you are sure is the lamest joke ever judging by the way your father is doubled over laughing. His smile widened when your eyes locked, and your heart began to race. You didn’t like it one bit. Well, that wasn't entirely true. You did like it. You’ve always liked the way your heart raced around him. Even when he was avoiding you.
After tomorrow night, though, everything would be back to normal. Bucky would go back to hating you and sleeping with half of Brooklyn.
The only difference now, the thought made you ache in a way you’ve never felt before.
---------------------
“It’s not funny! Mom said it in front of him! We had been awake maybe twenty minutes, and she’s picking out wedding venues. Stop laughing!” You scold your sister as you both break down in a fit of laughter.
“Can you blame her? You never bring a man home and then you bring him home? He’s gorgeous, sweet, laughs at dad's dumb jokes, and he looks at you like you hung the freaking moon. Seriously. There are like sixty people in our backyard right now, and you’re all that boy sees.”
You rolled your eyes. If only she knew the truth. Bucky was just good at playing this little game. In reality, he didn’t want to be anywhere near you.
“What’s so funny, darlin’?” Bucky asked as you feel a warm large hand slip around your waist and pull you into him. Your sister glanced down at his arm and then back at you with a smirk on her face.
“I better go make some rounds.” She grinned at the two of you and wandered off into the crowd leaving the two of you alone. Bucky gave your side a gentle squeeze and smiled at him.
“So? You gonna tell me what’s so funny?”
It’s fake. It’s fake. It’s fake. FAKE!
“Oh, nothing, my mom was just saying that she thought we were next to get married. That the way you look at me, there is no way it couldn’t be real.” You chuckled nervously.
“If only she knew how much you actually hate me.”
Bucky tensed next to you, and his hand slowly fell from your side. “I don’t hate you. I’ve never… you know what. Just forget it.”
“Wait…” Your eyes scanned over him. His jaw was clenched, his hands balled into fists at this side, and you have never seen that scowl on his face before.
“Are you - Are you mad at me?”
“I said, forget it, Y/n. Just spend some time with your family. I need a minute.”
He pushed his way through the massive crowd of your family, but there was no way you could miss him. His hair was tossed up in a small bun at the base of his neck, and he was taller than almost everyone around him. You waited a few minutes before you followed after him, assuming he went up to hide in your bedroom.
You were right.
The door to your bedroom closed behind you, and you leaned back against it, watching him for a moment. He didn’t look any calmer. He looked pissed, and you didn’t understand what he had to be so mad about. It wasn’t as if you hadn’t known how he felt about you. It was bad enough you were in love with him, and he hated you.
Did he have to make it so damn complicated?
“I don’t get why you are mad at me.” You murmured softly. “You can barely stand to be in a room with me. You complain every time I come over to see Steve. You actually groan when you come out of your room and see me sitting on the couch. I hear you. It’s not like you even want to get married. I’ve seen how many women you bring home.”
Bucky turned around, but he didn’t look as mad anymore. Under all the anger, there was a tiny bit of hurt in his eyes.
“Did you ever stop to wonder why that was Y/n?” Bucky shouted in frustration. “Did you ever stop to ask yourself why I find it so hard to be around you? Or why I jump from woman to woman to woman? Ever wonder why the hell they all look like you?”
“I.. I don’t understand.”
‘Christ…” Bucky muttered angrily. He stared up at the ceiling as if he was begging for strength.
“You being a manwhore is somehow my fault?” You had finally snapped. “And in all that, I didn’t hear you denying the fact.”
“I’m in love with you!” He yelled back.
The angry confession brought your fighting to a quiet end as you both stared at each other. Bucky looked pained, exhausted from the admission, and a little scared. You weren’t sure what he was scared of, his confession, or your reaction.
“What did you just say to me?”
Bucky slowly made his way across the room, meeting you in the middle of your bedroom.
“I’m in love with you.” He breathed quietly.
“I get upset when you come over because it kills me not to be able to touch you how I want. I hate watching you cuddle up to Steve during your little movie nights. It makes me want to break his damn jaw.”
“You want to break his jaw just for touching me?”
A low growl slipped from his lips, his hands were on your the moment you were in arms reach pulling you against him.
“Thought he was your best friend.” You gasped, fighting the grin tugging at your lips.
“Won’t be for much longer; he keeps touchin’ you like that.” He grunted.
“No more girls?”
“No more girls.” He promised.
“They were a sad stand-in for you. You’re the only one I want to spend my nights with, sweet cheeks. Even when you're a pain in the ass.”
You pressed your chest against his and gripped his biceps to help steady yourself now that your knees had gone weak.
“So what do we say to everyone? I mean… everything we told them was fake, and Steve will know! And-- and-” He grinned and cupped the back of your head, pulling you closer as you continued on.
“And your mom! Our parents are going to talk. They will all know we lied!”
“Good lord.” Bucky groaned. “Just shut up, would ya?”
Before you had a chance to start yelling, he swooped in and captured your lips, pressing you against him. You sank into the kiss, and thankfully the arm was around your waist; you would have melted right onto the floor. He nipped at your bottom lip and slowly pulled back, bumping his nose against yours.
“It was the first date idea that made you fall in love with me, wasn’t it?”
You chuckled and wrapped your arms around his neck, “I loved you way before that, Buck. You’ve had me before you even knew you did.“
“Darlin’ you’ve had me since the moment you said my name.” He slowly pulled you back towards him, till your lips were barely touching and whispered, “Okay, this can be our story.”
