Names - BB/R
Names
The snow had started to fall by the time Bucky finally started adjusting to life in the Tower. He couldn’t not struggle with everything being different. Even his relationship with his best friend was different - how could it not be? 70 years killing every major player in the war on terror to stoke the fire of chaos and he was suddenly expected to turn around and play for the good guys.
“Does he ever…you know…talk?” You whispered to Wanda, resting on the marble island bench.
“Not really” she replied, sipping her peppermint tea. “And I can’t even look into his mind. It’s like trying to read words on a page that are spinning, changing colours and screaming at you” she admitted and you gazed back out into the living room where Bucky was sitting.
“You know what? Fuck it. That dude needs a friend” you said determinedly, sauntering out of the kitchen. With a racing heart you walked up to the stoic Avenger and came to a stop in front of him.
“Bucky I was going to go for a walk in Central Park and I was wondering if you’d like to come with me”
There was a long pause during which all you could hear was the sound of your thumping heart.
“But it’s snowing” he murmured quietly and to be honest you were shocked to even get a response.
“I’ve got a thick coat” you shrugged, feeling a hot blush start to crawl up your cheeks. “What do you say?”
There was another pause before he looked up, his blue eyes meeting you (e/c) ones.
“Sure”
10 minutes later you and Bucky were walking through a deserted Central Park. You were rugged up in your thickest coat, beanie and gloves whereas Bucky was simply dressed in jeans and a hoodie, his hair pulled back into a low bun. You looked around at the snowflakes floating gently down onto the frozen grass.
“I love winter” you said aloud, raising your hands to catch the falling snow. “It’s so peaceful” the second the words left your mouth you wanted to grab them and stuff them back inside. “Sorry” you mumbled, cheeks flushing red in embarrassment. “That was insensitive”
“I don’t mind” Bucky replied quietly, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. “You’re right. It is peaceful”
A soft smile graced your lips and you did an internal victory dance. The two of you continued to walk through the park, white flakes settling on the tops of your heads.
“Thanks for coming with me, Bucky” you said, eyes on the assassin. You couldn’t help but notice your walking companion wince slightly when you called him by his name.
“Is everything alright, Bucky?” you asked after a pause and noticed him flinch again. “You don’t like that name, do you?” you asked softly and Bucky shook his head. You waited in silence for him to elaborate, the only sound in the park was your footfalls echoing across the grounds.
“Bucky was a hero who died fighting with his best friend. I don’t think the same person came out of that cryotube” he murmured softly, and you couldn’t help but look at him in awe. The stoic, steely faced soldier was finally opening up to someone - and it was YOU.
“Would you prefer it if I called you something else?” you asked softly and he shrugged indifferently. “Barnes is too impersonal” you pondered out loud. “And I think you’d rather get stuck to a giant magnet rather than be called the same name as a big purple dinosaur” this got a rise out of Bucky, he looked at you like you had just grown a second head. “I’ll show you later on YouTube” you dismissed with a wave of your hand. You walked further in silence, your path snaking around the frozen lake. “How about James?” you asked quietly, looking out of the corner of your eye to gauge his reaction. He didn’t flinch, wince or anything. He barely reacted. “It’s a nice name. And maybe you could think of it as starting at the beginning again. You can grow into Bucky if you want. But if I’m honest, I like you just the way you are” you murmured, feeling that telltale blush sweep across your cheeks again.
All of a sudden Bucky stopped dead in his tracks and you turned to look at him, confusion furrowing your brow. He extended his flesh hand towards you and a soft smile stretched his cheeks.
“Hi, I’m James. Nice to meet you” he said, blue eyes twinkling softly with the dying afternoon light. You smiled happily and grasped his hand with yours.
“It’s lovely to meet you, James. I’m (Y/N)”