Your Love
Bucky woke up with a groan, his body sore from yesterday. He briefly debated rolling back over and allowing the soft maroon comforter that was draped half hazardly over his body to lull him back to sleep before remembering the plans they had made in the group chat a couple of days before. He heard a familiar buzz and picked up the phone from the table, seeing the already growing number of notifications from the chat room. He opened his phone, lazily swiping through the messages.
Fuck Highschool
Clit changed their name to Hawkeye
Rocky Rhodes: I see the name has followed you
Hawkeye: I CANT GET AWAYY FROM IT
nyOOM: LMAO
Captain Dorito: What’s the significance of the name?
Scarlet Letter: it was his old nickname from Shield
Hawkeye: it haunts me wherever I go
Da Way: ew, Shield
Arachninsomnia: home of bigotry
nyOOM: so glad we left
Here’s Brucie: only reason their sports team was good was because of Clint and Pietro
Toner: bro they were unstoppable
Thunder: sorry for body slamming you Pietro
nyOOM: you gave me a concussion, it was a scary day
Falco: btw is everyone good for the mall today?
Hawkeye: it’s raining so idk if I can come
Russian Spy: I’m sure someone can give you a ride
Thighs of Betrayal: I need one as well, ma won’t let me ride my bike in the rain
Captain Dorito: I’ve got room in my car for you guys
Thighs of Betrayal: are we going to have to lay in the truck bed?
Captain Dorito: ...possibly
Hawkeye: sign me up, I crave Death™
Thighs of Betrayal: mood
Captain Dorito: aight I’ll pick up the Barton’s first
Scarlet Letter: *Barton and Maximoffs
King B: ??
nyOOM: FOSTER CARE BOISSSSSS
Hawkeye: I-
Hawkeye: Pietro no
Scarlet Letter: Pietro you don’t just tell people that
Russian Spy: lmao it’s good, I’m adopted
Arachninsomnia: my parents are dead
King B: Oop
Captain Dorito: Anyways! What time are we going?
Toner: LMAO STEVE
Rocky Rhodes: how bout 11?
Bucky looked at the time and sighed. It was only nine but knowing Steve he would be there at least an hour early.
Thighs of Betrayal: alright lemme ask my ma
He rolled out of bed, forcing himself to walk forwards out of the room and towards the stairs. He heard his ma humming happily, putting a smile on his own face. She wasn’t always in a good mood since his dad passed, faking it most days, but those few moments where she was genuinely happy were the best. He walked into the kitchen to find her watering the plant, looking up when he entered the room. “Hey ma, is there anything you need me to-“
“You wanna go out with your friends, don’t you?” She asked, causing Bucky to smile wider.
“Yeah, Steve’s probably gonna pick me up at ten to go to the mall with some friends, is that ok?” He asked. She smiled before nodding, Bucky giving her a hug before racing up the stairs. He looked around in his closet, thanking his past self for organizing it as he looked through the shirts. After a good forty five minutes of debating and lazing around in his room he ended up wearing a maroon polo and his well worn black ripped jeans, the material slightly stretched around his thighs. He hated that his coach made them do squats as a punishment but damn did they make his ass look good. He chuckled at the thought, shoving it to the back of his mind as his fingers instinctively grabbed for the scrunchie on his desk. His hand faltered, left half reaching for the soft circle. He knew that if he didn’t put it on, the entire school would rumor about his “break up” and yet he didn’t mind, leaving it where it was on the desk. He was only going out with friends, it’s not like any of them didn’t know his secret. He left his room and headed towards the bathroom, brushing out his slightly knotted hair. He reached out to grab his concealer when he heard a knock on the door, causing him to huff. He walked back to his room, grabbing his wallet off the desk before heading down the stairs into the kitchen.
“Bye mama,” he kissed his mom's cheek, the woman smiling with a shake of her head.
“Don’t stay out too late,” she said as he headed for the door. “And if you’re going to stay the night at Steve’s, text me first!” She called after him as he opened the door, Bucky yelling a “yes ma’am!” Over his shoulder as he closed the door behind him, raising his hand against the light drizzle. He saw Clint in the back motioning for him excitedly to hurry and he broke into a sprint, placing his hand on the side of the bed and hurdling himself into the truck. He landed face first on the man’s chest, hearing an audible ‘oof’ from the man. He looked up with a shy smile, the man’s eyes a vivid blue against the gray sky.
“Take me out to dinner first,” Clint joked, earning a loud laugh from Bucky as he rolled off the man, cheeks feeling slightly heated.
“Does shitty mall food count?” Bucky replied while smacking the window separating the cab from the bed. Steve put the car in reverse and pulled out of the driveway, the wild movement causing both Clint and Bucky to grab their sides of the bed to keep themselves stable.
“Does he always drive like this?” Clint asked, face slightly pale and worried. Bucky laughed, almost falling forwards as Steve shifted the car back into forwards and began down the road. They were going towards the rain, the speed creating a pocket of windless air for the two in the back.
“Yeah, I haven’t fallen out yet though so I don’t mind.” Bucky responded, earning a confused look from Clint. He then realized that the man didn’t have his aids in, instead they were resting snuggly in a small container in his lap. Bucky held up a finger before typing it out in the chat.
Thighs of Betrayal: Steve always drives like this, I haven’t fallen out yet tho so I can’t really complain
Hawkeye: well that’s reassuring
nyOOM: Steve said “please don’t fall out, I don’t want to be liable”
Thighs of Betrayal: now I kinda want to fall out
Thighs of Betrayal: which mall are we going to?
Scarlet Letter: he says the one that’s an hour away
Thighs of Betrayal: north, south, or East lmao
Russian Spy: East
Thighs of Betrayal: alright cool
Da Way: you cannot complain, my big brother is literally going 60 in a 30 weRE GONNA DIE
Arachninsomnia: HELP US
King B: you’ll be fine
Da Way: THE ROAD THE ROAD EYES ON IT
Arachninsomnia: dear lord please let this be a quick death
Bucky snickered at the chat before grabbing his headphones from his pocket before looking at Clint. The man was still focused on the chat, smiling at the notifications and quick messages being typed out. Bucky pulled his eyes away from the taller man before typing out a message.
Thighs of Betrayal > Hawkeye
Thighs of Betrayal: hey can you use headphones while using your hearing aids or…
He saw Clint click on the message, reading it for a moment before looking at him in interest. He furiously typed a message in return, playing with his hands nervously as Bucky went to read it.
Hawkeye: no but my aids can connect to Bluetooth due to Tony
Thighs of Betrayal: Tony made those?? That’s really cool
Hawkeye: ikr!!
Thighs of Betrayal: you think you could sync up to my music?
Hawkeye: hell yeah, whatcha playin?
Thighs of Betrayal: classic rock
Hawkeye: BET
Bucky chuckled, handing his phone to Clint. The man fiddled with the settings for a moment before handing it back, Bucky connecting his own headphones before turning on the music. He sighed, leaning back against the cab of the truck as the familiar melody of “Your love” played gentle through the headphones, the two in the back nodding along to the beat. Bucky pulled out his vape from his back pocket, taking a few long hits and allowing the tingle to take over his body. He held it up for Clint, who smiled gratefully before taking the longest hit he had ever seen someone take. He stared at the man in shock, causing Clint to look at his lap before handing it back. Bucky opened his phone after a few attempts before typing out a somewhat legible message to the group chat.
Fuck Highschool
Thighs of Betrayal: YOOOOO CLINT IS A GOD
nyOOM: what happened?
Hawkeye: lmao that was nothing
Thighs of Betrayal: I- BITCH WHAT
Scarlet Letter: did you let Clint fiend off your vape?
Thighs of Betrayal: Y E S AND HE TOOK THE LONGEST HIT IVE EVER SEEN
Russian Spy: Clint don’t you have your own mod?
Hawkeye: left it at home :,(
Thighs of Betrayal: oof, good idea
Here’s Brucie: I’ve seen him take a 20 second long hit before
Thunder: holy s h i t
Falco: man’s is a legend
Thighs of Betrayal: he will go down in the history books
Hawkeye: aw stop, you’re making me blush uwu
Da Way: please kill it with fire
Bucky turned off his phone, closing his eyes and leaning his face towards the sky. He loved the summer storms, the wind not uncomfortably cold but creating enough of a temperature drop from the normal Cali heat that it was pleasant. The rest of the trip there was a blur, he and Clint talking about anything and everything that came to mind. They also drove by a cop and had to hide under the tarp in the bed of Steve’s truck, trying not to laugh too loudly. They somehow managed to get there alive, both of them rolling out of the car before Steve had even parked. They waited patiently behind the truck, Bucky grabbing his vape and breathing in as a cop rolled by their spot. Bucky held his breath, waiting for the cop to pass before letting out a coughing breath.
“Fiend,” Clint teased, Bucky shoving him in response before putting the vape back into his pocket. They waited for the other three to climb out of the truck before heading to the entrance, waiting outside the glass doors that led into the well maintained mall. It was a hot spot for the teenagers and young adults in the surrounding area, filled with cheaper but well known stores, a couple of recreational activities, and plenty of food options. When the majority of the group arrived they finally decided to head inside, heading for the nearest coffee store which happened to be a Starbucks.
“We have a game where we try to come up with the best names,” Sam explained, walking backwards towards the store. Bucky was really hoping he would trip but his dreams were crushed as Sam turned around smoothly, continuing into the slightly dimmer store. Bucky looked over at Clint, who had gotten in line behind him. He saw the man fishing through his wallet with a scowl, looking between his money and the menu. He knew that was the look of someone who was trying to save their money, a face Bucky had known all too well, and walked up to the cashier when Steve left.
“Hi welcome to Starbucks! What can I get for you?” The curvy woman at the register asked, voice soft. Bucky smiled, confirming his drink in his head before speaking.
“Can I get a venti vanilla frappe please?” He replied, the woman tapping something out on the register before looking back at him.
“Your totals coming out to five sixteen,” the lady responded after a moment, Bucky fishing out a twenty and handing it to her.
“I’d also like to pay for the guy behind me,” Bucky said loudly enough for Clint to hear, who gave him a look of confusion and what looked like… guilt? The lady looked between the two of them before nodding, asking for his name. He gave it quickly before taking a seat on one of the softer chairs near the corner. He waited for Clint to order before motioning the man over. His face now blank. Bucky bit his lip nervously as the man sat down next to him.
“I can pay for myself, y’know,” Clint hissed, voice low so the others could hear. Bucky kept his voice level in response, anger slowly seeping into the pit of his stomach. He was trying to do something nice and the man was being rude about it, something Bucky could never understand.
“Never said you couldn’t, I just wanted to treat you. Besides, you said take you out to dinner first… right?” Bucky asked as he motioned to the store they were in, watching as the glow slowly returned to Clint’s eyes.
“I don’t think coffee from a Starbucks at eleven fifteen in the morning counts as dinner but I’ll let this one go,” Clint laughed gently, still looking slightly ridged.
“Also if you want to know why, I have a thing for paying for other people, I just like spoiling others… it makes me feel good I guess,” Bucky explained, playing with his slightly chapped lips. He watched as Clint nodded, words sinking into his head.
“I guess I understand, I just don’t like people paying for me because it makes me feel like a charity case, y’know?” Clint replied, leaning into the soft gray chair. The anger in Bucky’s stomach was replaced with guilt. He saw Clint scratched the back of his head, opening and closing his mouth before chuckling, “how about I pay for shitty mall food?”
Bucky smiled, wanting to say something else but froze as a woman called out a name. “Stephon?”
“Really Steve, that’s the best you could do?” Natasha rolled her eyes, earning a laugh from Bucky. The others snickered as the list of names got called, each one slowly worse then the last one. He had to admit that Pietro and Wanda had some good ones, going by Petri and Cosmo, but he was confident he had the name in the back, especially when-
“B- bukinan? Buchanan?” The lady called, the group laughing. Bucky stepped forwards to grab his drink, sliding the straw in and taking a sip. He wasn’t ready, however, when the lady calmly called out “Cunt?” Before faltering, horror plastered across her face. Bucky choked on his drink, grasping at the edge of the counter while wheezing. He heard Thor let out an ungodly loud snort of laughter, a rare but pure sound that led him into the point of no return. Clint walked up to the counter proudly and grabbed his drink, the others practically crying in laughter. It took them a solid ten minutes of tipping the lady and calming themselves down before they left the store, still giggling as they left. They wandered from store to store for a bit, trying on random outfits and buying a few clothes before they ended up at the large fountain in the middle of the mall, the skylights darkened from the ominous clouds above them. Bucky rolled his eyes when Steve clasped his hands together, gathering everyone’s attention.
“Alright gang, it’s time for our tradition,” Steve smirked, mischief gleaming in his eyes as he waited for someone to take the bait. Peter, being the soft innocent child he was, looked at Steve in curiosity.
“What tradition?” He asked, earning a wicked, toothy grin from Steve. The veterans of the game groaned, shooting Peter a glare.
“Well, small child! I’m glad you asked! We are going to be playing manhunt!” The group muttered among themselves as Steve shushed them, continuing his rant, “the rules are simple, we have three taggers to begin with. Everyone else gets ten minutes to hide, and afterwards the taggers get thirty minutes to try and tag everyone. If you get tagged, you join the taggers, also known as the hunting team. After the thirty minutes are up, the remaining hiders, also known as the hunted, have to make their way back to the fountain and sit somewhere inside the circle without getting tagged. There is no hiding in the bathrooms, and if everyone gets tagged, the hunters win and don’t have to pay for anything and get a hundred dollars to spend wherever they want, but if the hunted win, those who “survived” get the same amount of cash, any questions?” He looked around the group as Sam’s hand slowly went up.
“Can we make it a rule that Pietro, Bucky, Clint, and I can’t be it first because that is really unfair to the hiders?” Sam asked, the group chuckling and nodding in response. In the end, Thor, Tony, and Bruce were chosen as the hunters, the rest of the group breaking off in different directions. Bucky was lost at first before getting yanked by Wanda towards a store with Clint in tow. She pulled them into an American Eagle, quickly taking Bucky’s size before buying woman’s and men’s clothes and pushing all three of them including herself into a changing stall.
“Change into these,” she commanded, Bucky knowing not to question a woman on a mission and changing into rather feminine clothing. It was a pair of black sweatpants and an oversized pink sweatshirt, hiding the bulkiness of his body. He looked over to see Clint wearing a black shirt with a gold chain and nice fitting khakis, a change from his loose purple shirt and ripped jeans. She handed Clint a black hat that he put on backwards before ripping off the purple bandage on his nose and attacking his face with concealer, hiding the angry bruising. “I see you have piercings, change them out for these,” she said quickly as she handed him gold hoops, her accent thick. Bucky quickly replaced his black studs with the hoops, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He almost looked like a girl, catching him off guard. “Oh you’re not done honey,” she replied as she grabbed her makeup bag from her backpack. “How mad would your mom be if she saw you wearing makeup?” She asked while trying to match the concealer to his face.
“She wouldn’t-“
“Good, don’t move,” Wanda snapped as she pushed him to sit down, Bucky raising his eyebrows at Clint in surprise. The man just shrugged as she did his makeup, applying a few things that Bucky knew because of his sister and a few objects which looked rather foreign to him. After a solid five minutes of her working feverishly she stepped aside to admire her masterpiece. “That should work,” she finally responded before stepping aside so Bucky could see himself in the mirror. He looked unrecognizable, his slightly feminine features now amplified to the point where he looked like a teenage girl. “Everyone saw us three run off together so they’ll be looking for two guys and a girl, not a couple on a date at the mall,” she explained as she pulled Bucky’s hair up into a messy bun on the top of his head, pulling a few strands down in front of his ears, “Bucky, how well can you impersonate a girl?” She asked, Bucky smiling in response. He had to play a girl in the play a while back because they were short on female students, the voice coming back to him naturally.
“Does this work?” He asked, his voice rising at least an octave.
“Perfect, from this moment forwards, you are Jenna and Frank, good luck soldiers,” she said gleefully as she shoved them out of the changing room, Clint immediately grabbing his hand. Bucky looked down in confusion before returning his stare to Clint who shrugged.
“Play the part, right?” He murmured, Bucky shaking his head before guiding Clint’s arm around his shoulders, still holding the man’s hand.
“You’ve dated someone before, right?” Bucky asked quietly, voice still high. He saw Clint look at the ground with a sad look in his eyes and he frowned, staring at the man with determination, “well imma show how a good date should go,” he joked, Clint staring at him in awe. He didn’t know what kind of past that man had with dating but something about the sadness made him want to hug him and treat him right and show him a good time until his eyes were shining with joy again. Bucky saved that look in the back of his head as a reminder as he dragged Clint along with him, pointing at things in an obnoxiously high voice and laughing as they made simple small talk. Bucky watched in amusement as Shuri ran by them at some point with Sam and with Tony and T’challa on their heels. They dodged Steve at one point by diving into a photo booth, laughing as they chose a cheesy superhero filter and took photos together. The photos came as stickers and they both took one, Clint taking the one of them doing hand guns and Bucky taking the one with Clint laughing and Bucky staring at him. He didn’t know why it was his favorite photo, the smile on Clint’s face being so pure and full of life.
The only thing that seemed to dampen the mood was when they walked by a guy with greased back black hair, Clint faltering for a moment. “Hey Frank? What’s wrong baby?” Bucky asked, voice soft and concerned. Clint shook his head, looking like a beat puppy. Bucky got on his toes and placed a kiss on Clint’s cheek, catching the man off guard. He stared at Bucky for a moment before smiling, picking him up and spinning him, causing them both to laugh.
“Thanks Jenna,” Clint said as he put Bucky down, both still smiling, breathless. Bucky wanted to reach up and kiss the man before freezing, unsure of why the thought crossed over him. The moment passed as quickly as it came, however, as they continued their “date”, surprised when thirty minutes had passed, finding their way to the fountain and sitting down with noodles from a small noodle shop they found (which Clint had paid for) and a couple of shopping bags that made them look believable. They waited patiently to be spotted, noticing a woman with black hair sitting across from them smiling. It took Bucky a moment to realize it was Natasha who seemed to have the same idea as Wanda, her hair tucked back into a wig. She nodded before returning to her phone, pretending to be on her own. Bucky and Clint exchanged a quiet laugh before continuing their small talk, trying not to laugh as random members from their friend group walked by them in annoyance and confusion. “Should we give them a hint?” Clint whispered, Bucky nodding with a smirk. He pulled out his phone and turned the camera towards them. He felt Clint kiss the side of his face as he took the photo, a blush creeping up his cheeks. Clint leaned his head on Bucky’s shoulder as he looked over the photo, Bucky clicking a filter before sending it to the group chat.
Thighs of Betrayal sent onadatekindanervous.jpeg to the chat
Bucky watched as Sam slowly looked up from his phone in pure disbelief as he stared at Clint and Bucky from where he was standing. “You mother fuckers.”
In the end Bucky spent a lot more money at Spencer’s then he should have been allowed to spend.