"You - you want me to wear your dog tags?" Rose asked, a light blush creeping up her cheeks.
"You don't have to" Bucky said sheepishly, scratching the back of his toned neck. "It's just something soldiers used to do after the war, give their dog tags to the girl they were sweet on."
Rose smiled at this, playfully adding "so you're sweet on me huh sarge?" throwing in a wink for good measure. Bucky's face turned red and Rose couldn't help but laugh at how easily she'd made the winter soldier himself blush. "I'd love to wear your tags...James"
Bucky looked up at that a grin sliding across his handsome features "James huh? that's new. Its sounds good when you say it though"
Rose laughed lightly her eyes sparkling as she slipped the tags on under her shirt, she wished she could wear them openly but they had both agreed to keep their relationship a secret from the rest of the team - for now - to have some time without the prying of others. "I better get back" she added turning to peck his cheek "Nat will be waiting for me - avengers training calls!" and with that she turned and left the room leaving Bucky grinning from ear to ear thinking about his girl.
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Nat and Rose had been training for the better part of an hour when Nat saw it - the gleam of silver around Rose's neck when she rolled from a particular sparring move. She would have thought it was a necklace has it not been for the distinct clacking sound that accompanied the movement - Rose was wearing dog tags and to Nat that could only mean one thing - Rose and the captain or Rose and Sam were secretly in a relationship and she was determined to find out the truth.
"So" Nat opened casually moving to block Rose's punch "seeing anyone new?" Rose faltered at this giving Nat the leverage to spin her sparring partner onto her back and pin her to the mat.
"Il take that obvious hesitation as a yes then" Nat smirked flicking her auburn locks off her shoulder as she peered down at Rose.
"I - I don't know what you're talking about" Rose spluttered wondering how much the intuitive assassin knew.
"Sure you don't" Natasha replied with a levelled tone as she drew herself to her feet offering her hand to pull Rose up. With that the assassin stalked from the gym hips swaying as she walked. But not before she turned back to Rose one last time to add "Il find out what your hiding Rosalind" in a mysterious tone that left Rose reeling.
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Rose had almost forgotten her encounter with Natasha that morning until she walked into the common room for the weekly 'team bonding session' to be met by a smirking Wanda.
"Oh dear god" Rose huffed as Wanda wiggled her eyebrows seductively at Rose mouthing
"Natty tells me you have a secret lover"
"Can it Wands" Rose shouted as she stalked towards the living room with her drink in hand.
It was Saturday night - which meant one thing for the avengers team - team building exercises. Well at least that's what Tony excused it as, but in reality it was an excuse for the avengers to drink till they dropped and play games they probably hadn't touched since high school.
As she stalked into the living room Rose was swept into the air in a bear hug by a huge blond man "THOR!!!" she trilled leaping further into the hug. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd have mighty Asgard business now you're king and all" she said elbowing the god cheekily in the gut. "thought you would forget all about us mere mortals" Rose further quipped but a smile betrayed her show of hurt.
"I could never forget my favourite band of misfits Lady Rose" Thor said genially "Plus brother Stark said for tonight's games we'd need some of the stronger stuff" he raised a large frothing glass of Asgardian mead.
"Get the resident super soldiers buzzed huh?" Rose laughed. She was extremely happy to see Thor, she saw him like a wild older brother and his presence meant her boyfriend would get to loosen up a bit and finally feel the buzz of alcohol due to the stronger Asgard mead.
Tony interrupted the reunion sweeping into the room to the sound of an AC/DC track blaring. "Always with the dramatic entrances huh Stark?" Steve said with a grin lighting up his boyish features. Rose noticed he was already halfway through his glass of the Asgardian mead and she was happy to see him having fun.
But then her eyes drifted to the side where she caught Bucky looking at her. God he was beautiful Rose thought, his stormy blue eyes were twinkling as he looked at her and his black shirt clung to every muscle - the neutral colour lighting up the polished gold threads of his metal arm. She wanted to run into his arms and run her hands through his short coiffed hair, kiss his perfect rosebud lips and fall into his strong chest. But she opted for a quick secret smile and a wink before taking a seat next to Wanda on the couch.
"Okay, Okay" Tony announced holding up his arms to bring the chatter to a halt. "Now that everyone's here Its time to announce what today's team building exercise is" He said with a mischievous glint in his dark brown eyes. "Drum roll please"
Clint immediately tapped his hands on the table excitedly drumming a beat.
"Truth or dare or drink!" Tony said with a flourish.
The reaction in the room was immediate, Rose grumbled "what is this middle school?" but she smiled all the same. Steve looked adorably confused as he probably wondered how this was relevant to team building in any way. Sam whooped and did a shot of tequila, Nat just smirked a knowing smirk and Wanda quickly explained the game to vision under her breath while Bruce just shook his head genially at Tony.
"Come on guysss" Tony trilled "It'll be fun" and with that he slid a shot glass across to everyone in the room (Wanda, Vision, Thor, Steve, Bucky, Sam, Clint, Bruce and Natasha)
"Fine Tony" Rose said in resignation "we will play your stupid game" but she couldn't quite hide her excitement at the night to come, team building nights always created stories - especially when Thor brought out the Asgard liquor.
What Rose didn't know - what no one knew except for Tony, Nat and Clint - was that the whole game was a rouse designed to get Rose to reveal whether her secret partner was Sam or Steve.... no one had even considered Bucky. Not because they didn't think he was handsome enough or because they didn't like him. In fact after returning from Wakanda Bucky fit right in with the team - but because they didn't think he was ready for dating and they didn't see Rose and Bucky interact a lot. How very far off they were...
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Bucky's breath caught in his throat at the sight of his girl entering the room. She was absolutely stunning even in her casual wear and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. The past 3 months they had been dating had been the best of his life, but he wanted more. He wanted to walk up to her right now and sweep her into his arms, he wanted to wake up next to her in bed on a morning (he normally had to sneak out so Steve wouldn't get suspicious when Bucky wasn't in his room for their morning run). He wanted to sit next to her on nights like this with her warm body curled into his side and his arm around her. But they'd agreed to keep the relationship a secret for now and he couldn't deny that he did also love that she was all his - that they had something together untouched by the others.
When Tony suggested Truth/dare/drink Bucky surprised himself with his excitement. He wanted to have this - fun with his found family. He felt himself slowly leaving the winter soldier behind and moving closer to his old 1940's self, the one always up for fun.
So he nudged Steve genially "come on Stevie lets see if we can get you to admit you - the oh mighty Captain America - is scared of rollercoasters after that one time at Coney island." Steve just giggled already feeling the effects of the alcohol and Bucky took his moment of distraction to deliver a quick wink to his girl across the room who smirked back at him behind her glass.
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"Right losers lets get this show on the road" Tony announced once everyone (super soldiers and Norse god included) had done enough shots to get them significantly tipsy. "Remember the rules are you pick truth or dare and if you don't want to do the dare or answer the question you can take a shot but only for two rounds in a row"
"Natty" he drawled turning to face the red haired assassin "Truth or dare"
Natasha smirked "dare" she said confidently
Tony smiled, face full of mirth as he said "I dare you to show captain virgin over there your bra strap"
Without a seconds hesitation Nat pulled the sleeve of her shirt down flashing Steve the lacy strap and Steve's whole face turned tomato red causing the team to erupt into giggles over his embarrassment.
"What's the matter cap? Never seen a girls bra strap before" Tony teased to which Steve replied still blushing furiously "Im 100 not dead! Of course I have"
Bucky burst into laughter at that earning him a sharp glare from his best friend.
Natasha smirked turning her owlish gaze upon Rose. "Truth or dare" she simpered feigning innocence.
"Truth" Rose replied afraid of the dare the feisty red head would cook up for her.
"Who was the last person you kissed?" Nat quipped instantly
Rose froze, oh shit. She suddenly remembered the conversation with Nat this morning and narrowed her eyes as she realised the red head was trying to use the game to find out who Rose was seeing. She leaned across Wanda reaching for the vodka as she poured herself a large shot and downed it instantly.
"Ooooooh Rose" Wanda chirped "That dosen't look suspicious at all"
Rose sent Nat and Wanda a death glare and turned to look at Bruce who raised an eyebrow at her. Great. Now everyone is suspicious she thought.
The game moved on, Bucky confessed he had in fact assassinated one of the presidents, Wanda did a body shot off an incredibly confused Vision, Steve did end up confessing his fear of roller coasters after all much to the amusement of the group. Thor let Clint shoot an arrow off his head, Bruce admitted that he has in fact transformed into the Hulk - in public - whilst accidentally not wearing stretchy trousers. And Tony and Sam performed 'my heart will go on' complete with the titanic pose.
Finally it was Rose's turn again and this time it was Clint asking the question to her - she mistakenly took this as a round where she could safely pick truth.
"If you had to marry someone on the team who would it be?" Clint asked smirking
She sighed realising Nat must have shared with Clint her suspicions. But she refused to let them win so she answered "Tony"
Tony looked up in surprise at that but sent an overly dramatic and flirtatious wink her way "anytime gorgeous"
Rose rolled her eyes
"Wow, a literal god and two super soldiers are here and you go with Tony?" Wanda asked earning her a glare of mock outrage from him
"Calm down everyone" Rose said laughing "If I marry Tony than I get half of his money in the divorce which means one thing....Private island!!!"
The room erupted into laughter as Tony grumbled about needing a prenup for their non-existent wedding. Rose used the chaos to send a reassuring wink Bucky's way to which he replied with a cheeky smile.
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The night moved on and Natasha was starting to get frustrated at the lack of answers her, Tony and Clint's hell even Wanda's questions and dares were getting from Rose so she quickly shifted tact.
"Steve" Nat said earning her a surprised look from the super soldier - it was obvious after all that Nat was trying to get Rose to confess to something. "Truth or dare"
"Dare" Steve answered the buzz from the liquor giving him a surge of confidence.
"I dare you to take off your shirt" Nat instantly said earning her a few wolf whistles from Tony and a surprised look from Bucky.
"Ooooh Nat that's rather self-indulgent isn't it" Wanda teased, but the red head wasn't asking because she wanted a glimpse of the soldiers muscles - although that was an added bonus.
The assassin soon got what she was looking for as Steve pulled his shirt off by the back of his neck revealing his old army dog tags still laying on his - not Rose's chest.
Nat sent Clint and Tony a surprised look - they had been rather sure it was Steve - but you were rather close with Sam as well.
Confident that they had solved the puzzle Tony turned to Sam. "Truth or dare"
"Ugh Truth, I don't think ive got any more Celine Dion left in me" he joked.
"Have you ever kissed Rose" Tony asked
Sam looked at him confusion etched onto his features "No?" he laughed "Not that id be against it though hot stuff" he threw jokingly at Rose who merely laughed.
But Sam's answer had thrown Clint and Tony off completely, Rose was wearing Dog tags and clearly was secretly seeing someone. Had she given them back to Steve?
Nat being a trained assassin though had picked up on what the others had missed. With a strangled yell she gathered the groups attention as she had her epiphany.
"Rose!" she shouted looking at her open mouthed.
"What? Rose said startled by the look on Nat's face.
"I dare you to come here"
"Ermm okay?" Rose said chuckling slightly as she walked over to Nat
But before Rose had time to think Nat had her pinned to the floor like in the training session that morning as she wrestled the dog tags off Rose's neck reading the letter printed there with a triumph.
"Hah! I knew it!" she said grinning like the Cheshire cat.
Rose and Bucky shared a look that said everything they needed it to - the secret was out and they were okay with it.
"Natty" Tony whined "Is Rose secretly fondueing with the falcon or the captain? Don't keep us in suspense"
The rest of the team looked up their interest piqued.
"Actually" a voice drawled from the corner "Those tags are mine"
Rose looked up at Bucky who stepped into the centre of the room towards her smiling at him.
"He's right" Nat cut in "These tags read: James B Barnes"
The room went silent as everyone looked from Rose to Bucky realisation dawning on their features.
"Manchurian candidate??" Tony asked incredulously
Sam joined in "You could have all this Rosie" he gestured to himself "and you go for the winter snowflake?"
"What can I say? I have a thing for tall, dark and handsome geriatrics" she quipped back
Bucky laughed heartily as he swept Rose up into his arms for a kiss "been wanting to do that all night doll" he drawled as he stroked her cheek.
"EWW Get a room!!" Clint shouted but he was smiling and as Rose and Bucky looked up they realised the whole room was smiling at them - even Tony and Sam.
Steve walked up to his friend clapping him on the back "you could have told me you know", Nat looked up at Rose "You could have"
Rose and Bucky smiled entwining their hands as Bucky said "sorry I didn't tell you Steve, I just wanted it to be us for a while"
Rose smiled as she added "Me too but im glad we don't have to sneak around anymore James"
"Me too darlin', me too" Bucky said sweeping her into a kiss that was broken only by the wolf whistles of the team.