It was another wet wintery day in New York City and you were trying to get home quickly. You and your roommate Becca were having a group of friends over and you were running late. You were one of the several public relations staff that kept on top of everything that Stark Industries was always doing and staying late was more often than not the rule instead of the exception. You couldn’t get a taxi since it was raining and your umbrella wasn’t doing much when the wind was blowing the rain down, up and sideways. You felt like a wet rag when a taxi drove right by you, splashing you completely making you soaked from head to toe.
When you reached your building you were glad to see that you weren’t the only one drenched, the floors looked as if someone had taken a bucket and dumped water everywhere. You carefully made your way to the elevator and relaxed on the way up to your floor.
“Becca, nobody’s here yet are they,” you yell out when you walk in the door to your best friend.
“Nope,” she answers, popping the “p”.
“Good,” you say, stripping out of your wet clothes. You walk naked to the washer and put your clothes in to wash. “It’s pouring out there. You think anyone will come with it raining that hard?”
“I’m sure a few will, Steve for sure.”
“Cause if he doesn’t he won’t get any for a week,” you reply laughing.
“Stop. You’d like it if Bucky were giving you some and don’t deny it,” she replies.
“I'm not denying it but we both know that’s not gonna happen,” you say as you walk into your bathroom. “I’ll see you after a while.”
You had met Becca in college. The two of you were assigned as roommates in your first year and hit it off so well that the two of you roomed together until you both graduated. Becca was going to be a teacher and you were going into public relations. In one of her classes Becca met a tall blonde guy named Steve and they were soon inseparable. As a result, you ended up spending a lot of time with Steve’s roommate James “Call me Bucky” Barnes.
Now Bucky was something else, you soon discovered. He was a smooth sweet talker when he was looking for a hook-up, but when he was hanging out with just Becca, Steve and you, he was easy-going, fun and quite the gentlemen. He was always touchy-feely with you and had his own nickname just for you “Angel”. When you all were at the local bar and he hadn’t picked up a girl for the night, he always walked you back to your dorm to make sure you made it safely home. Somehow he knew you wouldn’t be going home with anyone, least of all him. You had definitely developed a crush on him, even though you weren’t his type, he usually went out with thinner girls.
After graduation you and Becca got a place together, even though her and Steve were still going hot and heavy. They both wanted to focus on their careers before moving in together. Steve and Bucky have a place close by, the two of them also keeping the college roommate arrangement going.
You however think it’s more than them wanting to focus on their careers. You think there is more to it actually. Bucky hadn’t found a girl he was serious about, he was a serial dater. There wasn’t a girl he was going to move in with anytime soon. And you, well you didn’t date much. Actually you didn’t date at all. You did have some of those dating apps. But you didn’t tell anyone.
You quickly showered and got dressed just in time for Steve and Bucky to get there. Bucky of course had some girl on his arm, blue dyed hair, thin, and looking at him like he walks on water.
“Hey Angel, you don’t look like a drowned rat. Steve, stop telling lies about Angel here, will ya,” Bucky yells out to Steve, who is busy kissing Becca hi.
You smack him on the arm as you hug him, whispering in his ear “Is this date number 1 or 2 for tonight?” laughing as you pull away.
“Shut up there Angel or you’ll pay later,” he laughs back at you, tapping you on your ass.
Hopefully he doesn’t hear the moan you accidently let out. You’d love to pay later but you know it’s only going to be something harmless like him beating you at Mario Kart or something like that.
The doorbell rings and that’s your excuse to leave him and his date. Soon everyone is there and everyone is having a great time. It’s only later that you realize that it’s only you that doesn’t have a partner or a date. Steve and Becca have been together for 5 years now, Sam and Riley for 3, Clint and Nat for 6, Bucky has his current date, Phil brought someone named May and then there’s you. Always the odd one out.
When everyone starts to leave you don’t let anyone help clean up. They all have places to go and people to be with. Becca’s heading to Steve’s and from the look of things, Bucky’s heading to his date’s place. It’ll be another night alone, you and your handy toys.
A couple of weeks later things are actually looking up. You’ve been making use of the dating apps you downloaded and actually matched with someone. The two of you have been talking for over a week and have decided to meet up. It was going to be the perfect time too. Steve and Becca were gone for the weekend and you had the entire place to yourself.
You left work early to take a long bath, making sure you were shaved in all the right places and have put lotion everywhere after. You did your hair and you put a little more makeup on than normal and had actually gone out and bought a new outfit just for the night. You weren’t one to show off a lot of skin, but thought it wouldn’t hurt any tonight.
When you arrive at the coffee shop there aren't a lot of people there and the guy, Sean, wasn’t there yet. You went ahead and ordered yourself a cappuccino. Looking at your phone you don’t see any messages from Sean so you sit and wait, people watching through the window.
After waiting for an hour, Sean finally sends a message saying he's not coming. It was a bet between friends and he never had any interest at all. You bite your lip to keep from crying and slowly pick up your purse and leave. You should have known better than to think some guy on a dating app would want to go out with you. Why would a stranger want to date you when you couldn’t even get the guy you've had a crush on since college to look at you that way.
You stop at the bodega on the corner and pick up some Ben and Jerry's chocolate chip cookie dough to eat while you cry over some sappy romance on the Hallmark channel. But when you walk into your apartment you find Bucky sitting on your couch watching the Islanders playing on your tv.
“Oh hey Angel. Our internet is out so I came over to watch the game. I didn't think you'd mind since you'd be on a…wait weren't you on a date?”
You stop in front of the refrigerator, closing the freezer door and putting your head on it, bursting into tears. Bucky turns the tv off and walks over to you.
“Oh Angel, come sit down with me,” he says softly to you.
He takes your hand and you follow him almost blindly and sit on the couch, Bucky right next to you. He wraps his arms around you, hushing you softly, until you are able to talk. He nudges your face up and asks “You wanna tell me about it?”
“I shoulda known it was a joke, Bucky, I just shoulda. No guys ever like me and so I shoulda known. I got to the coffee shop and waited for an hour and then he messaged me and said that. That it was a joke between him and his friends. Bucky, I shouldn’t have even tried. I’m so stupid.” And you just start crying again, harder this time.
You can feel Bucky tighten his arms around you and you feel his mouth moving against you, you know he’s saying something but you don’t know what. You can’t stop crying and when you finally realize that you poured this out to Bucky of all people you just cry harder. He’s just going to think you’re even more sad and pathetic than you were before.
When your sobs quiet down some you can finally make out some of what he is saying. And it surprises you.
“Angel, you don’t deserve an asshole like that.”
“I’d be more than happy to find him and kick his ass for hurting you like that.”
“I’d never treat you like that.”
“I wish you’d let me show you how wonderful you are.”
You pull away from him, confused. “Bucky, stop saying things you don’t mean. That’s worse than what he did.”
“I mean every word I just said. I’ve been in love with you for years. You’re always so self confident, smart and independent, why wouldn't I fall in love with you?”
“James Barnes, stop lying this instance! You have a different woman every night of the week. You’re just saying this to make me feel better. And it’s not working either! So knock it off!” you say with brand new tears in your eyes. How dare he tease you!
It’s what he does next that makes you realize that he’s not teasing.
“Is this teasing,” he asks as he grabs your face and leans down and kisses you firmly. His tongue forces its way into your mouth, completely dominating it, fucking your mouth with it. When he finally pulls away the two of you are gasping for air and you are completely stunned.
“Bucky, I don't understand. How could you feel like that about me? In love with me? Yeah right. You hardly know me like that. I mean, yeah, we do hang out some, but I’m not even your type. I’m not skinny and I’m not beautiful.”
“Oh Angel, you are beautiful. Have you ever wondered why I call you that, Angel? It sure as fuck isn’t cause you're sweet and innocent. I’ve heard you talk with Becca when you’ve been drinking and you have a dirty mind. No, it’s because you're the ultimate woman for me. When you look at me, it’s as if I’ve been blessed by an angel.
Since we met you’ve always treated me as just Steve’s pal, I just figured that would never change. So I just went out with whoever I could instead of sitting around hoping and praying you’d notice me. You have always been so focused on school and then your career, I just hid my feelings away, just being your friend was the best I thought I’d get.”
“Bucky I just never knew. I thought all along you were happy and living your best life. And I, well I have a confession to make myself. I’ve been half in love with you too. I could never say anything because I look nothing like the women you date. How could someone like you even be interested in someone who looks like me?”
You can see something in Bucky break when you say that cause his eyes turn black. He pulls you close to him and growls at you, “I swear to god Angel if you tell me one more time that you aren't beautiful I'll rip your panties down, pull you over my lap and spank that ass red then fuck you till you can't sit for a week. You got me?”
All you can do is nod in response.
“Good girl,” he says, before he kisses you sweetly, his hands wrapping around you.
Things don’t stay soft and sweet though. Soon both of you are trying to touch each other through your clothes and the kisses have turned hot and passionate. Bucky has you laid out on the couch and you can feel how hard he is. It’s been so so long for you, since high school, that your panties are soaked, you want him so badly. He finally pulls away from you, panting.
“Baby, Angel, as much as I want you, I refuse to make love to you on your couch. At least not the first time we’re together. We can save that for another time,” he says. “That is, if that’s what you want. I’m perfectly fine to just kiss you all night right here.”
Looking up at him above you, you could see the care and concern in his eyes. This was a man who is willing to put the control in your hands, who is respectful of your wants and needs. As much as you want to take things slow, you want to have him more.
“Bucky, please touch me. Make me yours.”
He kisses you softly and gets up. He reaches his hand out and you take it. You lead him to your room and as you open the door, he stops you.
“You sure you want to do this Angel?”
“Never been more sure of anything in my life,” you answer as you walk in your room.
You only have a small light on and neither of you turns on any more. The small light gives off a little romantic glow that fits the mood. Neither of you seem in a hurry and between the kisses and whispered words you feel truly beautiful for the first time. Bucky continues to show you with his fingers and his mouth how much he cares and later when he’s sliding his cock into you it’s with him whispering “I love you Angel” and “Fuck, you don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this” into your ear.
Afterwards you fall asleep wrapped in his arms, content and happy.
When Becca and Steve walk in Sunday evening, they catch the two of you in a compromising situation. You’re in Bucky's shirt and he’s just in his jeans, laying on the couch making out. The two of you are so into each other you don't hear the key in the lock. But you do hear Steve’s “What? When? Huh?” as they walk in.
You try to get out from under Bucky but he won't move. You know it's because his shirt barely covers your ass.
“So it looks like you two had a productive weekend,” Becca says with a smirk on her face.
“Becca shut up,” you say between gritted teeth.
Steve turns to her and asks “Did you know about this?”
She replies “Come on Steve, let them get decent. We don't need to see them half naked.”
You whisper ‘thank you’ to her and she just mouths ‘I want details’ to you as she drags Steve to her room.
“That was close,” Bucky whispers in your ear.
“Close! They walked in on us! What if, if we were, you know..”
“Fucking?” he finishes for you. “Angel, Baby, I'd never do that knowing someone might walk in.”
“James Barnes, do not lie to me! I know for a fact Steve and Becca have seen your ass more than once cause you couldn't wait to get some girl to your room,” you exclaim.
“You said it, some girl. You aren't some girl. You're my Angel and I'd never disrespect you that way. Nobody sees your body but me. And to make sure of that, let's get in your room so those two don't come back in here and see us still on the couch.”
6 MONTHS LATER
“I think that's the last of it,” Bucky says as he walks in with a box.
You look around what used to be his and Steve's apartment but is now yours and his. The living room has a number of boxes in it but it's not overwhelming.
“I think so,” so say as you wrap your arms around him. “Now to just unpack it all.”
“I know you Angel, you'll have it all done by the end of the week, if not sooner. But first let's eat. I'm starving.”
You order pizza from your favorite place down the street and eat it on the couch.
You think back over how you got to this point, moving in with Bucky. It actually happened sooner than you thought it ever would.
After that first weekend, you two were pretty much inseparable. And because of that you spent a lot of time at Bucky and Steve's. As a result Steve spent most of his time at yours and Becca's. Slowly Steve's things were staying at yours and your things were staying at Bucky's. It finally got to the point that neither of you were really ever at your own places anymore. It just made sense to officially move in together, each of you.
Later that night, after Bucky had worn you out screaming his name, you thought about how things had really changed. Once upon a time you truly believed that you were unworthy, unlovable. But now, you knew how much you were loved.