Let's Dance
“You know you were supposed to keep the in-fighting to a minimum, not be the in-fighting,” Sam says as he slides in next to Y/n where she’s leaning at the bar, with a drink in her hand.
“If he’d stop pissing me off, I’d stop threatening him with bodily harm,” She replies. It’s not rocket science.
Sam smiles in response, “Can’t really argue with that.”
They’ve both got their backs to the bar as they look out over the sea of people dancing away like their lives depend on it.
Y/n looks over at him with a smile of her own, “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy it.”
Sam laughs, “Can’t argue with that either.”
He turns around, ordering a club soda for himself. “Hey look,” he begins. She already knows where this is going but she likes him too much. So she lets him continue, “I’m sorry, I should’ve checked in with you after the funeral, it just—”
“Wasn’t your responsibility,” she finishes.
“To call up your friend after she’s been through some really rough shit?” Sam argues.
The bartender hands him his drink.
“Look man, we all had our own lives to deal with—” she tries but Sam cuts her off.
“But I should have at least called.”
“If we’re really going by that logic, it was my responsibility to look out for Wanda, and look how that turned out,” Y/n says regretfully. She should’ve kept an eye on her, she’s just a kid who’d lost everything and fuck if Y/n can’t relate to that.
“That’s different,” Sam argues.
“How?” She throws back.
Sam lets out a heavy breath, “Fine, maybe it isn’t… maybe we’re all screwing up, okay?” And that she can agree with. She desperately wishes that there was a handbook she could refer to for dealing with the aftermath of fighting Alien Barney & friends.
He turns back to her, “But I’m trying now… So, how are you?”
“Pretty damn shitty, Sam.” She replies honestly because there isn’t a point in lying right now. She’s already revealed half her hand, but she’s pretty intent on keeping it contained to just that. So she adds with a smirk, “and dying to dance.”
She finishes the rest of her drink in one sip and makes her way through the crowd to the man she’s been ogling since the whole shindig started.
“Hey,” she says, tapping on his shoulder.
He turns around from where he was staring at Sharon’s impressive art collection to look at her. When he sees it’s her, he seems shocked for a second but recovers quickly. “Hi.”
“I need your help,” she says innocently and his guard is up in an instant.
“What’s wrong?” He asks hurriedly.
“Sam’s trying to have a deep meaningful therapy session where we talk about our feelings. Now, I’ll never be one to object to some cathartic crying and a nice warm hug from a big strong man, but I’d rather not do it in the middle of a club while we’re on a mission, ya dig?”
He looks at her like she asked him if drinking expired milk was a bad idea. He remains speechless for a while and then, “…and I can help with that, how?” He sounds so utterly confused.
She holds up her hand as an invitation, having learned her lesson from last time about not touching without permission, and asks, “Dance with me?”
Now, if someone were to tell her that they saw the great Bucky Barnes fluster and fumble over like a teenager, she would’ve laughed at their faces. Yet here she is, watching him do just that.
“I don—I don’t know how to dance,” Bucky says, stumbling over his words. But he’s already taking her hand. “Not to this kinda music, at least.”
She can’t help the smile that lights upon her face as she begins pulling him to the dance floor, “Not much art to it, Sarge. Just move your body to the beat,” she says, leaning close to his ear. “I’ll show you how.” She winks at him.
Did she… just… wink at him? Did she really just wink at him?
She doesn’t have time to chastise herself anymore because he’s wearing a soft blush on his cheeks—and god if that isn’t the most sinfully adorable thing she’s seen in a while—and the song is changing, the people are screaming. So she does what she came on here to do; she dances.
She begins to sway with the music, moving her hips from side to side. She hasn’t danced since… Well, a while. She misses it. Bucky, however, looks entirely lost. She can’t help but laugh. He just grunts his displeasure at her reaction. She throws her hands up in mock defense before slowly moving to put her hand on his shoulder, while carefully gauging his reaction to her movement.
If you wanna run away with me, I know a galaxy
And I can take you for a ride
I had a premonition that we fell into a rhythm
Where the music don’t stop for life
He doesn’t shy away, but just to be sure she asks, “This okay?” He nods in response, so she puts the other one on his shoulder as well.
She begins moving her shoulders but Bucky remains still.
Glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes
Shining just the way I like
If you’re feeling like you need a little bit of company
You met me at the perfect time
“You gotta work with me here, James,” She urges. “Come on, no one gives two shits about you here.”
“And that’s a good thing because…?” He cocks an eyebrow.
“Because that means you get to do whatever the fuck you want,” She replies with a smile, grabbing a hold of his hand, pushing herself back, and spinning back into him.
She crashes right into his chest, stumbling only a bit and suddenly Bucky’s hands are on her waist steadying her. Their faces are barely a few inches apart. Before she can stop herself, her eyes flicker down to glance at his lips. But the moment she catches herself, she looks back up at his seriously blue eyes. He seems hesitant but she only smiles in response, hoping to ease whatever apprehensions he might have. And it seems to work.
His grip on her waist tightens just a bit as she wraps her arms around his shoulders. And they begin to move as one. It’s mostly her leading him but he’s following along well enough for someone who hasn’t done this before. He begins to relax into the actions and starts getting comfortable. She can tell ‘cause his shoulders have relaxed significantly.
You want me, I want you, baby
My sugarboo, I’m levitating
The Milky Way, we’re renegading
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
She molds him, maneuvering him to make them move together. And slowly but surely they almost begin to get lost in it.
He pushes her away, holding her arm, and then pulls her back in. Her back is pressed to his chest, while his arms are circling her waist, hands intertwined with hers. They’re both laughing now. His breath caressing her ear gently, as he does.
I got you, moonlight, you’re my starlight
I need you, all night. Come on, dance with me
I’m levitating
You, moonlight, you’re my starlight,
I need you, all night. Come on, dance with me
I’m levitating
And fuck her gently with a chainsaw. She wants to see him laugh so she sways herself to the beat, turning around to face him again but it’s too late. But come on! Tony would be rolling over in his grave if she quit that easily. If she wants to see him laugh, she’ll just have to do it herself.
So she begins singing along.
And it works like a fucking charm, cause he’s laughing now. Heartily, shamelessly, laughing. It’s the sweetest fucking sight she’s seen. It’s like the sun just popped out in this grungy congested room filled with people she doesn’t know. And even all the neon lights in the world cannot even compare. Fuck, the sun itself might not be this… fucking beautiful.
My love is like a rocket, watch it blast off
And I’m feeling so electric, dance my ass off
And even if I wanted to, I can’t stop
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
His laughs die down and she misses it the moment it’s gone, but he’s still wearing a smile. She’ll take it.
They’re moving still, only barely but mostly he’s just looking at her and for the life of her she cannot bring herself to look away. Because he’s looking at her, and looking at her, and looking at her, and in that moment she forgets that there could ever be a world outside of those torturously cerulean blue eyes.
That is until someone clears their throat next to her and her whole body stuns.
“Fancy seeing you here,” the man says when she looks at him, “darling.”
Motherfucker.
“Is that your—” Bucky begins.
“Yep,” she answers before he can finish that sentence. And the fucker in front of her just smiles.
“The guy from the apartment this morni—” Bucky tries again.
“Yep.”
“He’s—”
“Yep.”
“Told you, you were going to do some Avengers shit,” the man in front of her says with a cocky smile.
She reluctantly pulls herself out of Bucky’s arms grabbing the man’s wrist, pulling him to the side, next to the paintings, “What do you want?”
“Ouch, you’re being awfully mean,” he chides. She lets go of his wrist. “I mean, imagine my surprise when I heard that the Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” he looks over behind her, and it’s only then she realizes that both Sam and Bucky are flanking her, “were seen in a shady little bar in Low Town with a deadly but gorgeous woman.” He clicks his tongue. “You came all the way here and didn’t even think to say ‘hi’? You’ve really hurt my feelings, darling.”
Her shock is fading away now, so she gives him a pointed look. “Hi,” she deadpans. He laughs.
“What the hell is going on?” Sam asks.
“For once, I really don’t know,” she replies and begins looking him over.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that,” The man in front of her, in a striking wine-red suit, chides.
“Like what?” She asks.
“Like you’re sizing me up, counting my men,” he says looking over the crowd, “assessing the situation like I’m a threat…” He looks back at her, “You’re literally counting the exits as I speak,” he says exasperated. “Look at me, Y/n.”
The use of her name makes her turn to him.
“I am not a threat to you. I’m not here to jeopardize whatever you’re doing. I would never do that to you. So can you please, calm down?” His eyes show genuine concern. And she does, at some level, trust him enough so she does, calm down. But then he adds, “Besides, I’m not cruel enough to exact my revenge by blowing your cover.”
“Revenge for what?” She’s confused and kinda pissed off.
“Breaking my heart,” he smiles, that charming fucker.
“How the fuck did I do that?” She asks.
“Ignorance is a coward’s way out, darling.”
“You asked if we could go move in together, as a couple!” She shouts.
“And you shut me down without a second thought,” he replies easily.
“That does seem awfully cruel, Y/F/N,” Zemo interrupts. And where the fuck did he come from?
“Not that I’m looking for your approval,” she says to Zemo, “but it was pillow-talk—”
“Doesn’t make it any less meaningful just because it was post-coitus,” Zemo interrupts.
“The coitus was with someone else!” She throws back.
She can hear Sam ooh behind her.
“Oh come on, it’s not like we’re exclusive,” he pitches with a smile.
But before she can respond to him by kicking him in the balls, “Okay, what the hell is your boytoy doing here?” Sam asks, finally having had enough.
“The boytoy has a name,” Zemo interjects, extending his hand, “Malcolm Brekker… Your reputation precedes you.”
“Why does Zemo know your boytoy?” Sam sounds like he’s about to have an aneurysm. She can relate.
“Likewise, Baron Zemo,” Malcolm says as he shakes Zemo’s hand.
“And why does your boytoy know Zemo?” Sam shouts.
“I’m quite a huge fan of your work,” Malcolm continues, with a smile.
She’s going to murder a man in the middle of a party, with nothing but her bare hands. That’s what’s about to happen, a gore-tastic assassination. But his annoyingly charming smile makes her realize he’s just fucking with her.
All three of them fix him with a pointed look.
“Objectively speaking,” he throws his hands up in mock defense while feigning unconvincing innocence.
“You done now?” She asks, frustrated.
“Depends, are you annoyed?” He asks.
“Very.”
“How much? Rate it, on the scale of 1 to 10.”
“A solid 7.”
“7? I was going for a 9.”
“Blame him,” she says, pointing at Zemo, “He raised the bar too damn high.”
“Am I interrupting something?” Sharon’s voice cuts in from behind her. All four of them turn to look at her.
“Yes. Please continue,” Y/n urges.
“Umm, okay. I got something,” she states.
“Great,” Bucky cheers. And she’s not sure, but he sounds… pissed. “Let’s go,” He ushers Sam and her.
“See you around, darling” Malcolm says smugly.
“You better hope not, boytoy,” Bucky throws back.
With one last look at Malcolm’s coy laugh, she turns around and begins following Sharon.
“So, Brekker?” She asks as all five of them begin making their way up the stairs.
“I’m not really in the mood for judgment,” Y/n says, annoyed. She isn’t drunk enough for this interaction.
“Oh, no, no. I am not judging you. If anything I’m jealous!” She says laughing. “Wait, should I be jealous?” She raises her eyebrows in interest.
Now that throws Y/n for a spin, “Not that he’s forbidden fruit or anything… but ooh yes. Well worth your jealousy.” She smiles.
“Nice,” Sharon remarks with her own smile.
“Can we get back to the mission, please?” Bucky speaks up. And yep, definitely pissed. Oops.
“Oh yeah, I found him,” Sharon states simply.
“Let’s go,” Sam says.