ain't misbehavin
Bucky had just settled in to fix himself a snack. The common room was nice and quiet. Just as he was settled he heard a voice behind him. “Hi Mr. Barnes!” He jumped “Jeez kid. Call me Bucky and don’t sneak up on me like that.”
“Oh sorry Mr Bar- I mean Bucky. Look I um...I need some help.” He looked around the room and then back at Peter. “Um….what kinda help? We talking hide a body type help or….”
“NO, no, um its just…. There's a dance at school in a few weeks and there's a dance competition and I wanna take M.J. but she’s suuuuuper competitive and amazing and I can’t really yea know...dance. So I was kinda hoping and Bruce kinda suggested it, if its not any trouble that maybe you could help us maybe learn to dance...together?” He blinked for a few minutes unsure of what to say. “Kid...the dance moves I know are almost a hundred years old. You sure you don’t wanna talk to someone a bit more...hep to today's steps?” Peter snorted “No. I um… I feel awkward trying to dance like that. Also...you sounded like a total old person there.” He crossed his arms “You want help or not?” He quickly stifled his laughter. “Yes please. I can bring M.J. by later. Thanks Bucky!”
A few hours later Bucky was getting the stare down from a rather intimidating 17 year old woman. “Hi, you must be M.J.” She nodded and held out her hand. “Sergeant Barnes, pleasure to meet you.” He and Peter had moved all the furniture in his suite to give them room. “So do you have any experience dancing?” She looked over at him “Not really. I mean I dance but ya know fun casual nothing...structured.” He nodded “Ok well um...I’m not sure how well my kinda dancing will go with today's music but we are gonna start learning with what I know. I’m sure you can figure it out once I show you. You both are smart kids.”
“We aren’t kids, we are young adults.” He put up his hands “Ok, fine you are both smart young adults. Now who's gonna lead and who's gonna follow?” Peter looked at him “Doesn’t the man normally lead?” Bucky laughed “Traditionally yes BUT, this is the 21st century and women are capable leaders in many cases more so than us guys. Also not every guy is the right size to lead his gal or confident enough. Just ask Steve. Even when he dances with Natasha he lets the lady take the lead. So since you two are fairly matched in size who’s gonna lead?” M.j. shrugged “You lead Parker. One less thing for flash to bug you about.”
“Wait he’s getting picked on?” Peter was trying to silence M.J. “Ummm yea since forever. How is this news?” He stared at Peter “Because this maroon took on me AND Steve in a fight and WE didn’t win.” M.J. was looking at him with an odd look on his face. It was a mix between shocked and outright offended. Had Peter not told her about Germany? Surly she knew he was spiderman. “Did he not tell you this?” She blinked and composed herself “Oh he told me but I didn’t expect to hear a racist term like that.” He looked at her confused “Ummm I don’t follow.”
“Sorry to intrude however Miss Jones is correct. You have accidentally used a phrase rooted in early history as a derogatory term for former slaves.” He was shaking his head “Kid, oh my god. I didn’t even know. Do you know how common that word was when I was growin up? It wasn’t used for just black people it was a common insult. I would never use a slur on purpose you gotta believe me.” She eased up a little “Well now you know it has some rather unpleasant roots. So maybe don’t say it. Did they not do any sensitivity training with you?” He couldn’t hold back the laugh. “I spent over 70 years brainwashed and working for actual Nazi’s they didn't give fuckall about weather or not I used a slur or called a lady a broad. After that I spent three years on the run and another few years having my brain unscrambled.So no there wasn’t time for any sensitivity training. I think I have done pretty ok all things considered.” Her eyes narrowed “Remind me to sit you down and go through a crash course. Does Steve need one too?”
“Umm no? I don’t think so.” She nodded “Ok good. Just you. Well let's get this show on the road while at least two of us are still young.” He nodded now a little nervous that anything he said would be scrutinized and held against him. “Right… um… I um..Friday? Is there someone I can steal for a dance partner? I am not comfortable placing hands on this young lady.”
“Pepper is on her way to your suit James.” He nodded “Ok. I hope you don’t mind. Touching is still kinda hard for me and I don’t think you want this all over you” he said holding up his left hand. “Not at all sir whatever makes you comfortable.” Pepper stepped off the elevator a few moments later and smiled. “Hello Michelle, how are you? Friday said you needed me James.” He nodded “Yup. they want me to teach them to dance and I didn't feel comfortable placing my hands on M.J. soooo if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all but only if I can pick the song.” He smiled “Of course you can. Either check the records or ask Friday.”
“Friday, please play La vie en rose” Bucky smiled as he carefully placed his hands as Peter followed along. He honestly hadn't danced in quite a long time. It seemed like it was part of him that was gone. They carefully danced to the song and he found that he had gotten lost in the moment. A memory of a time long gone lingering as he remembered dancing with Becca for the first time in years. “James are you ok? You’re crying?” He stopped “Oh..um..I haven’t danced like than since…..1944. It just...I remembered some stuff. I’ll be ok. How about we kick it up a bit? Friday play Ain’t misbehavin please.” The tempo kicked up and Bucky proceeded to show Peter and M.J. a few other dances he knew. He was tossing Pepper around and she was quite trusting with every dip and twirl. “Ok now you are just showing off.” He stopped and looked over to see Steve in the doorway smiling. “I knew if you were over here blasting Benny Goodman you must be doing the Lindy.” Pepper took that moment to sit down on the chair.
“Well Pete and his gal needed some dance lessons and apparently I was the go to guy and Pepper was more than happy to be my dance partner.” Steve smiled “It’s nice seeing you have fun.” He shook his head “Don’t you go getting sappy on me.” Peter and M.J. stood up. “Thanks for your help Sergeant Barnes and I will be back to give you a bit of a crash course in what’s not cool to say anymore.” Steve raised an eyebrow “Buck? Whadid ya do?” He shrugged a bit “I used a term that is apparently racist as Michelle and Friday were both quick to point out. I honestly never knew but now I do and it won’t happen again.” Steve laughed but Pepper shot him a look “You don’t get to laugh. I remember when you pulled out a pack of cigarettes right out on the balcony.”
They all stared at Steve. “Damn Stevie, even I knew smoking wasn’t ok anymore.” He shrugged “No one told me and if i'm not mistaken Hydra was more or less running S.H.I.E.L.D so of course they weren’t gonna tell me what was ok and not ok. It would be that much easier to make me look like an idiot and feel even more displaced.” M.J. nodded “He has a point. If they made S.H.I.E.L.D. seem like it was more comfortable he would accept it no questions asked.” Bucky grinned “yea till a tall dark and handsome Brunette sent his world crashing down around him.” He dramatically flopped onto the couch and Pepper giggled. “You are so silly.” He grinned “Isn’t that why you keep me around?” He leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Of course and because you don’t exactly have a place to live otherwise.”
He feigned offence at her comment. “I see, I’m just a charity project to make Stark industries look good.” M.J. was shaking her head. “I can see why Pete likes you. You’re the biggest dork I have ever met and that’s saying something because I know Peter AND Ned.” Bucky glared at M.J. “I’m not a dork. I am the Winter soldier fear by all seen by few-”
“Constantly filching his best friends boxer shorts when he forgets to do his laundry.”
“You are lucky you are still on the mend from the mushroom incident punk or I’d make you eat those words.” M.j. rolled her eyes. “Well there is too much dork and testosterone in this room for me now. Later old people good night Pepper.” She left and Bucky stared at Peter. “She just called us old people.”
“Well..i mean..you kinda are.”
“Oh I see how it is, learn all my award winning dance secrets and then call me old. See if I help you next time.” Steve smiled “Come on you old drama queen lets get some dinner.”