Cowards
“Hocus Pocus!” Wanda screamed excitedly as she held up the DVD with the three witches on the cover.
Natasha set the bowl of popcorn on the bed and glared at her. Wanda seemed unaffected as she looked at you with a hopeful smile.
“We’re not watching that,” Natasha said, snatching the DVD out of her hands. “It’s Halloween, we should watch something like Saw or Insidious.”
“Um, I vote for Hocus Pocus,” you told her. Wanda held up her hand for a high five while Natasha stared daggers at you. “Sorry, Nat, but when the movie’s over you two will go back to your dorms and I’ll be alone since Sharon decided to spend the night with Steve.”
“бздун,” Natasha muttered as she made herself comfortable on your bed, her back against the wall.
“What did you call me?” you frowned.
“A coward,” Wanda explained as she inserted the disc and raised the screen of your laptop.
You stuck your tongue out at Natasha before you turned off the lights and joined your friends. It was already dark outside and the moon wasn’t too bright so you didn’t need to close the shutters.
You sat between Natasha and Wanda; your backs against the wall, looking towards Sharon’s bed. When the movie began, you heard Wanda give a little gasp. Natasha leaned forward and glanced at Wanda.
“That’s not Hocus Pocus,” she said. “It’s The Purge: Anarchy!”
Wanda scooted closer to you, her legs curled under her body. You tried to cheer her up with a small smile.
“Pietro must have mixed up the CDs,” she said, more to herself than you and Natasha. “I swear I will kill him.”
“It’s gonna be okay, Wands. I saw it, it’s not that scary.”
She made a noncommittal sound before you all fell silent. You loved these quiet nights with your friends. Everything seemed so easy and peaceful.
“Don’t you think that guy looks like Brock?” You pointed to the screen.
“Yeah, but he’s nicer than Brock.”
“Um, Brock’s a massive douche,” you agreed. “Bucky told me that-”
In unison the girls repeated your last sentence, playfully imitating your voice. You rolled your eyes, they always made fun of you when you mentioned Bucky.
“When are you going to ask him out?” Wanda asked.
“Um, today’s Monday sooo,” you drawled out, then paused for a moment, pretending to think about it. “Never.”
“Why?” Wanda whined.
You chuckled nervously. “Because we’re friends.”
“Bullshit,” Natasha startled you, “that guy’s always touching you or calling you ‘doll’. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing.”
“Well, if he’s so interested in me, why doesn’t he ask me out?”
Natasha flicked a popcorn kernel at you. “Because you’re one of his best friend and he doesn’t want to lose you.”
You replied with a noncommittal sort of hum and turned your attention to the movie, letting the conversation die. The room fell silent as you all watched the movie. You and Wanda let out a started noise when something clunked against you bedroom window. Wanda clung to you like you were her lifeline.
“Chill out! It’s just a tree branch,” Natasha reasoned, rolling her eyes.
You tried to relax a bit, but it was difficult to ignore the rattling of the branches against the window. Wanda was still holding your arm tightly, her eyes glued to the window. You briefly wondered if there was a tree near your window.
A particularly loud tapping on your window startled you.
“Was that a knock?” you asked, brows furrowed.
With a groan, Natasha kicked the blanket off and jumped out of bed. She crossed the room to the window, unclasped the latch and opened it. She turned back to you and Wanda, still cuddled up under the blanket.
“See?” She gestured outside. “It’s just the wind, now can you please calm down?”
Pale, slender fingers grabbed her outstretched hand, closing around her wrist. She let out a powerful scream and tried to pull her hand free. She stumbled backward and tripped over Wanda’s messenger bag.
She fell on her butt as Bucky climbed into your room through the window.
“Thanks! I wasn’t you’d heard me,” he said.
Your eyes darted between Bucky and Natasha before you and Wanda burst out laughing. Bucky frowned as you and Wanda doubled over with laughter. He helped Natasha to her feet and she immediately swatted his chest.
“What the hell, Barnes! This isn’t Dawson’s Creek, you can’t do that!” she said, still fuming.
“I’m sorry, but the door is locked.”
“So, obviously, you climbed onto the roof… makes sense,” Natasha sneered before she turned to you and Wanda. “Yeah, okay, you can stop laughing now.”
“That scream-” Wanda said through her laughter. “Wow, a real horror movie scream.”
“Bravo!” you teased her, applauding.
Natasha said nothing, but if looks could kill, you and Wanda would have died right there… multiple times. Bucky threw himself on your bed and adjusted his body to a more comfortable position.
“What are you doing here, Bucky?” Natasha asked.
“Besides scaring the shit outta you?” he replied with a cheeky grin. He looked proud when you and Wanda giggled silently. “Sharon’s staying with Steve tonight so I need a place to stay.”
He laid his head in your lap and you ran your fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. He closed his eyes and sighed, almost purring under your gentle caresses.
“Sam lives in the room next to yours,” you pointed out.
“Yeah, but he’s is expecting company. A woman with red hair who gets scared easily.”
“Fuck off!” Natasha grumbled.
“Hey! I never said it was you,” Bucky smirked, his eyes still closed.
You stilled your movements, your eyes growing wide as you stared at Natasha. You had no idea she was seeing him. She stood her ground, her hands on her hips and her emerald green eyes narrowed menacingly.
“Yes I’m dating Sam,” she finally replied after a long minute of complete silence. “And do you know why I’m with him?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Because he asked me out,” she articulated coldly.
Bucky sat up on the bed and stared at her, silently telling her to keep her mouth shut. A slow smirk tilted the corner of her lips as she held his stare. As the tension grew, you gave Wanda a pleading look.
“Right, I think we should go,” Wanda practically shouted.
She climbed off the bed and gathered her things while Natasha continued to stare at Bucky. You knew exactly what Natasha was trying to do. You were not stupid, you knew Bucky liked you more than a friend.
“Don’t you have anything to say to Y/n, Bucky? Or are you a бздун,” Natasha said, still grinning.
Wanda gave up. She dropped the shoes and bags she was holding and ran a hand down her face, sighing inwardly. You saw Bucky’s jaw clench and something inside you snapped. You had to do something.
You grabbed Bucky’s face and turned him to face you before you pressed your lips against his. His face registered surprise, his lips tentatively moving against your own. When you pulled away from him, his eyes were still wide with shock.
“I like you Bucky,” you said.
He blinked slowly, a dopey smile on his lips. He could still feel the heat of your kiss on his lips. You gave him a shy smile, hoping you didn’t scare him off.
“I like you,” he said, his voice a little lower than before. “A lot.”
He just looked too adorable with his pink cheeks and soft blue eyes. You giggled when he gently pressed his lips to yours. You vaguely heard Natasha and Wanda leave, but you were too busy kissing each other and preferred to ignore them.
In the hall, Wanda gave Natasha a dirty look as she closed the door behind her.
“C’mon! Someone had to do something. It’s was embarrassing.”