“This is all your fault.” Clint announced, looking at the picture on Bucky’s phone. “ Stand by the giraffe, Clint. Lemme take a picture, doll ” he huffed, rolling his eyes.
“Oh come on, that was hilarious,” Bucky grinned, pulling his boyfriend closer.
Clint’s lips tugged down in a pout, “I told you. Animals don’t like me, they can sense that something is wrong with me.”
“Then let’s go visit the wolves, maybe they’ll like you.” Bucky teased, kissing Clint’s cheek then grabbing his hand, leading the dumpster fire towards the Southside of the petting zoo. Most of the forest animals were over there. On the way, a flock of birds suddenly squaked and banked around Clint to get away.
“See?!” he exclaimed grumpily, watching as the birds returned to formation when they were well past him.
“Come on doll, at least Lucky loves you,” Bucky insisted, trying to cheer him up. On second thought, a date at the petting zoo didn’t seem that well when your boyfriend was a werewolf. Bucky could practically see that if Clint were in wolf form, his ears would be drawn back in irritation.
“Lucky loves everybody, it doesn’t mean anything. It’s like when people say their mom loves them.”
“I thought your mom was kinda shitty.”
“She is. Was. Whatever.” he shook his head, stopping when he realized they’d reached the wolves. It was large and spacious with different nooks for hiding from the sun. There was even a tiny stream flowing through. The pack was decently sized, maybe 8 adults and a few pups. The closest wolf instantly turned to stare at Clint.
“What’s he saying? You can talk to wolves, right?” Bucky asked curiously, hoping this would cheer his grumpy blonde up.
“She’s a she first of all. And they don’t ‘talk’ it’s more like signals and scents, Bucky. You’re not gonna like the kinda signals and scents she’s throwing my way though.” he grinned, getting a punch in the shoulder.
“Knock it off, you wouldn’t dump me for a fancy white wolf at the zoo, right?”
Clint snorted, pretending to think. “I don’t know… I mean.. She has a very nice tail. Do you have a nice tail?”
“No, but I bet I’ve got a better ass.”
Clint made a choking noise, blushing. “Yeah yeah, you win this time, whatever.” he mumbled, unable to hold back a smile.
“Can’t believe it. I take my date to a zoo and he gets hit on by the animals.”
Clint laughed, kissing Bucky’s head. “You’re sweet, you know that? Come on, I want ice cream, it’s hot out.”
“You are a child in a grown man’s body.” Bucky shook his head, swinging their hands as they walked. Clint kept pointing out random stuff, cute animals, gigantic trees, clouds that were shaped like Bucky’s—”Clint! We’re in public!”—and beautiful murals whenever he saw them.
By the time they got toward the front of the line, Bucky had laughed at something inappropriate more times than God needed to know.
“Come on, Buck, you love my humor.” Clint grinned, face brighter with the sun beating down on them.
“I don’t know, doll… I mean..” he teased, laughing brightly as Clint swatted at him.
A few seconds later they were putting in their ice cream orders. Clint loved triple chocolate with salt over the top. It was absolutely disgusting and Bucky preferred the good old mint chocolate chip.
“Hey, I’m paying, get your hand away from that pocket.” Bucky insisted, nudging Clint. “Besides, your paperclip and roll of tape won’t afford this,” he teased, reaching into his own pocket. His finger brushed against the box with the ring and it made Bucky’s heart speed up with anticipation. After they paid, they waited for their dessert on one of the picnic benches shaded by trees.
There were a lot of people ahead of them waiting for ice cream.. Which meant they had a bit before Bucky started to move off the bench, but then Clint was talking.
“-you know? And the pigeons stay away so I guess there are perks of having me as your boyfriend. And I make an amazing breakfast.”
“Clint, you lit the cabinet on fire– that’s not the point.” Bucky shook his head, getting down on one knee and reaching into his pocket.
“Ice creams ready!” Clint suddenly shouted, eyes locked on the chocolate mess that was about to be consumed. Without any control, Clint was already bounding to it like a puppy dog, not even noticing Bucky, nor that painfully embarrassing attempt.
Bucky quickly untied his shoe and then tied it again, shooting a smile at the strangers who were staring.
“You’re getting slow old man,” Clint teased, kissing Bucky's hand and leaving sticky chocolate on it.
“That’s disgusting.”
“I mean, is it? I bet you’d still kiss me if–” he started when Bucky pulled him closer and his breath hitched with anticipation. They locked eyes for a moment and then slowly and deliberately, Bucky let go and moved back. That’s what the little futzer deserves , Bucky thought to himself with a smug smile.
“Noooo, that’s not fair, Bucky, no, was it something I said? I won’t dump you for the white wolf, please,” Clint whined, grabbing at Bucky.
“Come on, let’s go pet the goats.”
Clint made puppy dog eyes, sticking his bottom lip out.
“I’ll kiss you later, doll” when you say yes .
“I’m impatient, Buck, remember? I have no understanding of the concept of ‘delayed gratification’.”
“Well honestly I’m surprised you know what delayed gratification even is,” Bucky smirked, refusing to hold Clint’s hand in favor of keeping the sticky mess away. “Did Fury make you look it up?”
“Yeah, the old bastard,” Clint frowned. “Something about ‘don’t use words you don’t understand’ or whatever. Made me find it in a hardcover dictionary . College sucks.”
“College sucks”
“You know what else sucks?”
Bucky closed his eyes. “How did I get stuck with you again?”
Clint grinned playfully. “Because you found a naked guy passed out in an alley and your hero complex wouldn't let you leave? And then my charming skills convinced you to keep me.”
“Clint, you threw up on my shirt.”
“ Charmingly ,” he added.
“You thought I was gonna mug you.”
Clint scoffed, “Hey! You looked scary with that scowl and leather jacket. I was just an innocent, small, vulnerable –”
“Mhm, mhm,” Bucky laughed, nearly choking on his ice cream. “I’m sure, Clint. Keep on telling yourself that. You can turn into a furry monster on command.”
“Am I scary?”
“Terrifying, doll,” Bucky drawled, dragging his Brooklyn accent into it.
Clint’s face turned red and he shoved Bucky. “Oh stop that!”
“You have a problem?” He raised an eyebrow, smiling lazily and before he could say anything more Clint had pushed Bucky. Instinctively, he grabbed Clint and in the process both of the idiots tumbled into the pond, ice cream abandoned on the sidewalk where it fell. Clint could hardly breathe, and not from the water. He was coughing up, rather from laughter. He was holding his side, sitting in the pond where the water came up to his neck laughing and spitting water out. It was infectious and Bucky couldn’t help but join in. They were gasping for air between laughs, giggling hysterically and as soon as Bucky could breathe, he grabbed Clint by his arm and pulled him in for a kiss.
“I wanna stay with you for as long as you’ll have me,” he murmured, grinning brightly at him. “Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”
There was no hesitation in Clint’s answer, he was smiling brighter than the sun, soaking wet and giggling in a pond.
“So did you plan to propose to me in the pond or?” Clint asked as they walked home. Their clothes were slowly drying in the sun and the blond swung their hands with every step. The silver coloured band around his ring finger was almost as shiny as his smile.
“What do you think, doll?” Bucky responded, lifting an eyebrow as he sighed. He’d get this idiot for the rest of his life. The thought made him floaty with giddiness. He was already planning the wedding.