Smoke Gets in your Eyes
“Permission to come aboard?”
Bucky frowned at the sound of your voice before a nostalgic smile pulled at his lips.
Years ago, when Bucky was young and stupid, his mother forced him to play with the neighbour’s kid. You were a year younger than Bucky, barely anything, but he was six and you were- a baby.
“I’m not a baby!” you replied breathlessly, clambering up the rope ladder to the treehouse.
“Yes, you are! I don’t play with babies.”
You peeked your head into the treehouse and offered him your brightest smile. “Pretty please.”
He rolled his eyes, unimpressed. “No.”
“I’ll tell your mom.”
You looked over your shoulder at Mrs. Barnes who was trimming a row of flowers with pruning scissors. Bucky took a step toward you and gave you a hard look.
“Don’t you dare!”
You took a deep breath as if you were about to shout Mrs. Barnes’ name, but Bucky cut you off.
“Fine, permission granted.” He took a step back while you hoisted yourself into the treehouse. “I’m a space pirate, you can be my assistant.”
“No, thank you.” You shook your head. “I’m the leader of the New Alliance. My mission is to capture the evil space pirate who’s been stealing our stuff.”
“No, that’s not the game!” Bucky whined, stomping his foot.
“It is now.”
“Permission granted,” he replied, smiling.
He watched as you climbed into the treehouse. It was a little small for two adults. You quickly crossed the cabin and joined him near the window. He caught you in a bone crushing hug and pulled away to look at you.
“Watcha doin’ here?” he asked jovially. “I haven’t seen you in like, what, eight years?”
“Yup, almost a decade,” you confirmed, then ruffled his hair. “God, your hair’s a disgrace. I bet your mom gave you an earful.”
He pinched your cheek to wipe off your smirk and you playfully slapped his hand away. “She keeps saying I need a haircut.”
“Nah, you’re fine,” you waved him off. “It’s a little strange though. I mean hairdressers used to hide when they saw you. Your hair was your life.”
He rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“You were a freak.”
“I haven’t seen you since high school and somehow it’s like we never left,” he said with a pout.
You bumped your shoulder against his, the gesture meant to be playful. He shot you a not-so-discreet side glance and grinned at you.
“I missed you, smartass,” he said affectionately.
“Don’t go soft on me, Buck.”
“So, watcha doin’ in this hell hole? Thought you were a big girl livin’ in the big city.”
You sighed inwardly as you leaned against the edge of the window. It wasn’t really a window, more like a square-shaped hole. Bucky mimicked your position.
“Your mom told my mom they were selling the house,” you said, admiring the scenery. “I wanted to say goodbye and when I got here I saw your spaceship parked out front. I asked your mom, she said you were up here.”
Bucky laughed softly. “You never liked my car.”
“It’s old and broken,” you argued.
“I’d rather fix something broken than buy a new one.”
You took a look at him. He was older, but he was still the boy who drove you all around town even though you said you didn’t mind walking. His long, chestnut hair framed his face, a five o’clock shadow dusted his cheeks and chin. He looked dark, mysterious and incredibly handsome.
You agreed with him.
You swung your backpack over your shoulder and waved goodbye to your friend as you made your way to the school bus. You were standing in line when Bucky slung his arm over your shoulders and pulled you away from the line that had formed in front of the bus.
“Hey, smartass!”
“Bucky,” you complained, looking over your shoulder at the bus. “I need to take the bus, my shift starts in forty minutes.”
“Don’t worry ‘bout that,” he replied with a smile. “How was your day?”
You relaxed slightly. “Good. I got an A in math. Thank you for tutoring me.”
“What can I say, I’m Einstein.”
“And modest, too,” you teased. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see.”
You entered the school parking lot and looked at him, your eyebrows tightened into a suspicious frown. He stopped next to a crummy looking car and gestured at it with a big smile on his face.
“Tadaaaa!”
“Tada, what? You bought it?”
“Yes, smartass,” he said as he rounded the car. “Took me a while, but I finally had enough money to buy this little beauty. You like it?”
“Euuh.”
He scolded you when you scrunched up your nose.
“As long as you’re happy,” you said.
“I am!” he beamed. “Remember when we were kids and we used to pretend the treehouse was a spaceship? Well, that’s my spaceship and I’ll take my best friend wherever she wants to go.”
“Best friend?” you scoffed, crossing your arms. “I thought Steve was your best friend.”
He threw his head back, trying not to groan, then turned to you. “You’re my female best friend.”
You gave an exaggerated cringe. “Please, tell me you did not just say that.”
“Yes,” Bucky sighed. “And do you know why?”
“Enlighten me, oh, wise man.”
He tilted his head, a wicked grin slowly growing on his face. He enjoyed your banter, but he didn’t want to hurt your feelings. Quite the opposite, actually.
“Because when I tell you that you’re my best friend, you ask me about Steve and when I tell Steve that he’s my best friend, he mentions your name. God forbid I have more than one best friend.”
You kept your arms crossed, but pouted whimsically to hide the grin forming on your face. Bucky burst out laughing and opened the passenger door for you.
“C’mon, milady, get in or you’ll be late for work.”
You sat down and shifted a bit in your seat, trying to find a comfortable position. The springs of the seat were digging into your cheeks and backside.
Bucky had a proud bearing and a satisfied look on his face as he started the engine, but his smile faltered when he looked at you. You fastened your seatbelt and smiled. You tried your best to look at ease, but Bucky knew you too well.
“You’re afraid,” he said, hoping his sadness wasn’t utterly obvious.
“It’s just…. it doesn’t look safe, Bucky.”
“Do you think I’d let my best friend sit next to me if I wasn’t 100% sure this car was safe? I took it to a garage and I checked everything twice. Yes, it’s an old car and it needs a paint job, some new seats and whatnot, but it’s safe. Promise.”
You let your head fall back against the broken headrest. He looked so excited to share this moment with you. You smiled at him and nodded.
“I trust you.”
“Thank you,” he said, smiling wide. “I think I deserve a milkshake.”
You snorted at his comment.
While you worked, Bucky would usually sit at his favourite table and do his homework. You would serve him a slice of pie and a milkshake, free of charge because he was kind enough to wait until your shift was over to walk –now drive- you home.
Your superior, Mr. Stark, wasn’t thrilled with this arrangement until he noticed that girls and boys followed Bucky Barnes wherever he went. In the end, giving Bucky a free snack was pretty lucrative so he treated Bucky like a prince.
“I have a date today,” he said after a moment, then cleared his throat, “with Natasha Romanoff.”
“Wow, Bucky!” you cheered.
He laughed softly. “Yeah, I was so nervous when I asked her out. I’m not usually like this, but Nat’s special, y’know.”
“I know.”
He pined after her for the past few months, but she didn’t seem interested. You wondered what had made her change her mind.
“Can you not freak her out? Please?”
You let out an offended gasp. “I have never-”
“You told Wanda Maximoff I had a third nipple,” he cut you off, then glared at you when you started laughing. “It’s not funny! I know it was you!”
When he parked the car in front of the restaurant, you were still giggling. He pinched your arm to make you stop and you cried out in fake pain.
“Well, that’s what you get for being the worst wingman ever. You told Sam Wilson I still slept with my teddy bear!”
“But you do!” Bucky argued. “You still sleep with that old thing I gave you years ago. It smells like cheese, I dunno why you keep it.” He sighed. “Now, because of you, Wanda thinks I have a nubbin and that’s not even true! You’re lucky she hasn’t told anyone.”
“I’m sorry, Bucky,” you said sincerely. “I shouldn’t have told her that.”
“And I shouldn’t have told Sam your pajamas had little cats and dogs on it.”
Your eyes widened. “YOU DID WHAT?”
“An eye for an eye,” he replied with a twinkle in his eyes, his lips curled back in a malicious smirk.
You took a deep breath as Bucky finished recalling his story.
“I can’t believe I did something like that. We were dumb.”
“We were young,” Bucky argued.
You slid down the length of the wall until you sat on the floor with your feet spread apart. Bucky followed you, the two of you facing the blank wall.
You broke the silence. “I always wondered why things didn’t work out between you and Natasha.”
“She thought you and I were secretly into each other.”
“Oh,” you replied, “I’m sorry.”
You turned your head to look at him when he poked your cheek. His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, a regretful look passed over his features, and you briefly wondered why he looked so unhappy.
“S’not your fault,” he said with a shrug. Seeking to lighten the moment, he changed the subject. “Have you heard from Sam lately?”
You nodded. “He’s still in California. Married, two kids.”
“Good for him.”
“Yeah.”
“Do you remember the talk?” Bucky asked with a grin.
You hid your face in your hands and groaned. “Oh, no, please, Bucky! It still haunts me at night.”
Laughing quietly, Bucky tilted his head to look at you. You looked more mature, more… sophisticated, though he supposed it was to be expected when one move to New York.
He used to be so protective of you. No doubt that your young, friendly face and naïve demeanour attracted all kinds of weird guys.
“Me too,” he replied quietly.
“Bucky, stop daydreaming!” you hissed in his ear as you walked past him to grab a tray. “Tony’s gonna fire you if you don’t do your job.”
Sheepishly, Bucky nodded.
After graduating from high school, he began his studies in biology at the local university. He was still living with his parents, even though his commute was a little long.
Bucky also worked part-time at Tony’s restaurant. He loved working with you. He liked the way you moved from one table to another, you made it look so easy.
Three hours later, he flipped the OPEN sign on the door to CLOSED and sighed contently, knowing his shift was almost over. You were wiping off the counter when he sat on the leather-covered stool in front of you.
“I’m gonna sleep for ten days,” he said.
You were about to agree when Tony walked into the main room with a panic-stricken look on his face. You both turned to him as he made his way to the front door.
“Kids, I have an emergency,” Tony said. “Can you hold the fort while I take care of it? I know you wanna go home, but-”
“Don’t worry, Tony, we’ll stay,” you interrupted, waving him off.
He thanked you and rushed out of the room, disappearing into the night. You looked back at Bucky who had an annoyed expression on his face.
“What?” you asked.
“I wanna go home,” he whined. “I wanna watch reruns of That’s 70’s show in my bed and eat a greasy pizza.”
“Sounds healthy,” you teased.
“Whatever,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You wanna hang out tomorrow?”
“Can’t,” you replied, folding the tea towel you’d been using. “I’m going to the mall with my mom and Nakia to buy my prom dress.”
You let out a squeal of excitement as Bucky ran a hand through his hair. He seemed to be choosing his next words carefully.
“About prom,” he sighed, “I think we should talk.”
You frowned. “Um, okay?”
“Look, I’ve been there,” he said, fidgeting on the stool. “Everyone’s dressed to impress, everything’s magical and-”
Your throaty laugher cut him off. “You think I’m 10? We’re not living in a Disney movie, Bucky.”
“You’re impossible, you know that?” he groaned in frustration. “All I’m saying is you don’t owe Sam a thing.”
You stared at Bucky with a blank look on your face. You had been dating Sam Wilson since your junior year, not long after the pyjama incident. Your parents adored him, but Bucky couldn’t stand him.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about-” he gripped the edge of the counter as he leaned closer and whispered, “-sex.”
You took a step back, your face twisted into a disgusted grimace. “Ah, no, I’m not talking about that with you!”
“It’s important,” he argued. “I lost my virginity on prom night. And if you’re considering having sex with Sam, I can help you.”
“Please, shut up,” you cringed.
“First of all, men know nothing about sex. It’s a fact,” he said, ignoring your plea. “Second, use protection, even if it ‘kills the mood’,” he said in a gruff voice as he made air quotes with his fingers.
“Bucky, I swear to God, shut up!”
“Grab a banana, I’m gonna show you how to put a condom on,” he said way too casually.
“JAMES!”
He looked up at you. “What?”
“Stop talking! Please, it’s so awkward.” You took a calming deep breath. “You’re worse than my parents, Buck.”
“I just wanna make sure you know what you’re doin’.”
You smiled sweetly at him and combed his hair with your fingers. It was ruffled and out of place from constantly running his hand through it. He closed his eyes and leaned into your touch.
“I appreciate your concern, James, but there’s nothing to worry about,” you said, pulling your hand away. “I love Sam and he loves me. We both know that what we have isn’t going to last. He’s moving to California and I’m going to New York, but we’re ready and it’s ourdecision.”
You had had a conversation with Sam about prom and after prom, and while it had crushed your heart to know your relationship was coming to an end, you felt at peace with your decision.
Sam was a good man. He was kind and gentle and you knew you’d be safe with him.
“You’re growing up,” Bucky said teasingly, “it’s terrifying.”
You rolled your eyes. “Get over it, old man.”
You rounded the counter to grab your coat and Bucky followed you with a big goofy smile on his face. You eyed him warily, knowing he was about to say something dumb.
“Now let me tell you how I lost my V-card, so you know what to expect.”
“NO!” you screamed, then stuck your fingers in your ears and sang until he had stopped talking.
Bucky laughed heartily when he saw the look on your face. You nudged him with your elbow, only to come in contact with pure muscle. Your stomach made a little flip.
“Sam used to call you the Protector ‘cause you were always there when I needed you,” you recalled with a fond smile. “My parents said you were like my shadow.”
Bucky was silent for a moment, his gaze lost somewhere in the past. You closed your eyes and listened to the sounds of children playing. When Bucky spoke, you kept your eyes closed.
“It was my mom‘s fault, she brainwashed me.” You could hear the smile in his voice. “When we were kids, she’d look me in the eye and say, ‘You take care of Y/n’. After a while, it became natural.”
You said nothing, but snuggled closer to him and rested your head on his shoulder. He took this as a silent thank you and turned his head to press a kiss into your hair.
“What do you do now?” you asked.
“I’m an engineer… well, I’ll be once I find a job.”
“You still live here?”
“Yeah, I live above Tony’s restaurant, but now it’s a coffeehouse. He still owns it, though, and I still work there.” He made a short pause. “How’s New York?”
A long sigh escaped your lips. “I’m someone’s assistant. I thought it’d be different. I’m just a fish in the sea, I’m like everybody else.”
“You’re one in a million,” Bucky replied.
“Maybe here,” you shrugged, “but in New York, I’m not special.”
“Come back.”
He turned to you and moved fast, sitting on his knees in front of you. You pulled your knees closer to your chest and avoided his big blue eyes.
“I can’t, Bucky, I need this job.”
“Sounds like you hate your job,” he chuckled dryly. “C’mon, you didn’t come here after all these years just to say goodbye to my parents. Why are you really here?”
Still unable to look at him, you shrugged. You didn’t want to cry in front of him. He moved slowly and cupped your face, forcing your head up.
“Look at me,” he said softly. He waited until your thick, wet lashes lifted and your eyes met his. “Do you remember the night before you left town?”
Of course you remembered. You closed your eyes as Bucky’s voice transported you back to the night you’d never forget.
The night before you left town, you and Bucky took the going-away gift Tony had prepared for you, a picnic basket filled with your favourite food, and went to the treehouse. The treehouse was where you and Bucky became friends, where you spent most of your time, even though you were both young adults now.
Graduation had been bittersweet. Your parents and Bucky took about a hundred photos of you and Sam in your graduation gowns. It had been a lovely day, but the next day Sam left for California and you spent the entire day crying your eyes out.
That was almost two months ago.
“You sure you’ll be safe in New York?” Bucky asked after a long moment of silence.
“I’ll be fine.”
He watched you carefully, but saw nothing in your reaction to worry him. He tried to convince himself that you were a grown woman, but every time he looked at you he saw that sweet little girl who had worked her way into his life.
He wouldn’t have it any other way, but the thought of not being there for you was painful. It did not help that his father had casually mentioned that over 500 people had been murdered in New York the previous year and that it was a dangerous place for a young woman. Especially a young woman who had been living all her life in a small town.
Needless to say Bucky was terrified.
He needed to be strong. You were no longer a child he had to protect, you were a young woman with a head full of dreams.
“You worry too much, James Barnes,” you said with a kind smile. You brushed a thumb over the ridge of his cheekbone in an attempt to ease his fears. “It’s getting late, we should go home.”
“We are home,” Bucky reminded you with a grin. “The treehouse belongs to my folks.”
“Yeah, but I’m not a member of the Barnes household.”
“You kinda are.”
You got to your feet and started to gather the dirty plates into the basket. Bucky followed your lead and helped you clean up the mess.
Your parents knew you were in the treehouse with Bucky, they were not worried, but it was dark outside and there wasn’t much light from the streetlamp because the tree was in the way.
Bucky climbed down the rope ladder and jumped to the ground. He placed the basket down and waited for you. Once you had your feet on solid ground again, you turned to face Bucky.
“So this is it, uh?” you said, rubbing your arms with your hands to keep yourself warm. It was the middle of August, yet a slight chill crept into the air.
“I guess.”
“Give me a hug,” you requested with your arms stretched out.
He leaned forward and opened his arms, waiting for you to embrace him back. The whole street was plunged into darkness. As he tilted his head to kiss your cheek, he missed and kissed your lips instead.
You both stood still for a short moment. When you pulled back, you both mumbled apologies and exchanged nervous chuckles. His arms were still wrapped around your torso, your chests almost touching.
When neither of you moved, Bucky searched your face anxiously, trying to gauge your mood. Your eyes were like two opals catching what little light there was. His heart was thumping. Each pulsation boomed in his ears like a drum echoing in a silent room.
Taking a chance he prayed he wouldn’t regret, he pressed his lips to yours again, only this time it was intentional.
He breathed a soft, relieved sigh through his nostrils when you returned the kiss. Something snapped within him. His hands cupped your face as he backed you up against the tree, his lips claiming yours in a hungry, soul-sealing kiss.
The quiet, delicate noises you made only spurred him on. He squeezed his eyes shut, streaks of black, yellow and red fireworks exploded behind his closed eyelids. You grabbed his shirt in your fists and kept him close, matching his ferocity with your own.
His lungs were begging him to do the natural thing and breathe. But there was no air, only you. The kiss was a jumble of tongue, teeth and lips moving desperately.
He wasn’t sure who broke the kiss, but now he was panting heavily, his forehead pressed against yours. He wished he could see you clearly in the dark, make out every feature of your face.
He panted, chest rising and falling as he basked in your warmth. Heat in his muscles made him feel like he was going to burst into flames. He wondered if your felt the same way.
“Goodbye, Bucky.” And just like that, you slipped away from him, taking your warmth and the softness of your skin with you.
He wanted to follow you, to talk about what had just happened. Fear crept into his stomach and he felt as if he had crossed a line. He was rooted to the spot, unable to speak or move.
You were gone now, yet his lips were still wet and warm to the touch.
Bucky never really thought of you as more than a friend. Sure, he knew you were a good-looking girl, maybe not conventionally beautiful, but you exuded vitality and goodwill and that added to your charm.
He stood there like an idiot, looking flustered and worried.
Bucky remembered the day Natasha had told him it was painfully obvious you two were into each other. He remembered the day you had stopped by to tell him you were dating Sam Wilson. They never got along, even though you kept saying they had a lot in common.
The answer came to him like a sudden flash of light in a dark place.
Bucky Barnes was madly, terribly, wholeheartedly in love with you.
Your eyes were shiny with unshed tears, but you had somewhat managed to keep yourself in check. You didn’t know the kiss had had such an impact on Bucky. Yet the raw emotion in his voice tugged at your heart.
“I want you to know I never meant to confuse you or hurt you in any way. I’ve always had deep feelings for you, not romantic feelings though, but that kiss…,” Bucky trailed off, unable to explain how utterly natural it had felt.
You let your head fall forward. Bucky waited patiently, his hands now resting on your bent knees. The silence in the treehouse was deafening. It seemed like minutes went by before he spoke again.
“I think I didn’t like Sam because we were too similar or maybe it was because he was a better version of me… I dunno, but I swear I’ve never tried anythin’-”
“I know,” you replied softly.
He heaved a small sigh of relief, it felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He knew you might not share his feelings, but that didn’t matter to him right now. Sam had been your first love –your first lover- and Bucky would have never deliberately stood between you and him. He wanted to make sure you knew that.
Bucky let you process for a moment and sat back next to you. He rested his head against the wall behind him and stretched out his long legs before him. He looked completely spent, his body and his mind were exhausted.
“I’m sorry, Bucky.” Your arms were locked around your legs, and your forehead pressed against your knees.
He closed his eyes and tried to control his quivering chin. He wasn’t sure what you were apologizing for, but he didn’t take that as a good sign. He resisted the urge to bang his head against the wall and, instead, took a deep breath.
“I should have stayed that night,” you continued. “I was confused and I didn’t know what to say.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Bucky replied.
“No, but I ran away and it wasn’t right.”
Your voice was stronger this time and it made him open his eyes.
“I was supposed to come back home for Thanksgiving that year, but I told my parents I had too much work. It wasn’t true,” you said, turning your head to meet his eyes briefly. “And when my mom told me you were spending Christmas with Steve and his mother, I figured you didn’t want to run into me either.”
“Yeah,” Bucky scoffed lightly. “I was afraid of your reaction – I still am. I didn’t want things to be awkward between us. I was afraid to lose you.” He looked at you and found you staring at him. “I guess avoidin’ each other only made things worse.”
“Well, it certainly didn’t help,” you replied, trying to lighten the mood.
“Anyone ever told you that you’re a smartass?” He cocked his head and flashed a teasing smile in your direction.
“Jerk,” you said without animosity.
The mood in the small treehouse shifted, the air suddenly saturated with unspoken questions. It was subtle, but Bucky was good at sensing subtleties.
He didn’t want to ruin the moment, but there was a question he had to ask, even if he was terrified of the answer.
“Do you ever think about me?”
His body tense as he waited for your answer. It could have been an innocent question, but his tone implied something else. He braced himself, half expecting you to reject him.
He could feel our gaze on him, but his mind and body buzzed with anxious energy and he refused to meet your eyes.
“I think about you all the time,” you admitted.
His lips curled in an adorable boyish smile and he lifted his arm to make room for you. That sweet gesture had been burned into his muscle memory by a thousand repetitions, no conscious thought or intention involved.
You scooted closer into the curve of his body and rested your head on his shoulder. He tucked you close to his side and let himself enjoy the touch of another human being.
“I wonder what would have happened between us if I’d stayed here,” you said, then looked up at him. “I almost didn’t go to New York, you know? I tried to make up some lame excuse to stay here, but it didn’t work. I don’t regret leaving town, but I wish we’d stayed in touch.”
“Yeah, me too,” Bucky replied in a whisper.
The light of the falling sun shone through the leaves of the tree, casting a golden hue on the walls of the treehouse. It was a beautiful shadow play, one you and Bucky knew well.
Bucky exhaled a shuddering breath. His parents’ house had been sold to a lovely couple. This would be the last time he’d sat in his treehouse, but at least you were by his side again. It almost felt too good to be true.
“We have so many memories here together,” he said, his thumb absently rubbing circles over your skin. He felt you shiver. “Sorry, are you cold?”
“No,” you said with a breathless chuckle, “it just feels good.”
If he had not been sitting there with you, he would have smacked himself on the forehead. Of course you were not cold. It was warm outside, just like the night he had kissed you.
His simple touch made your skin tingle and that thought made his heart flutter. There was no doubt in his mind that you had come back because you needed him in your life. And God knows he needed you.
Taking his silence as rejection, you asked, “Is it too late for us?”
“No,” he replied almost instantly, making you both chuckle.
“Good, because I think you ruined me for other men.”
Nothing could have prepared him for the overwhelming emotions that had ripped through him as you looked up at him. You laid your hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat fast.
Bucky became too self-conscious to sit still so he tried to shift his body in a futile attempt to find a more comfortable position. He told himself that you were just messing with him.
“I’m not teasing you,” you said, sensing his insecurity. “You’re my best friend. I haven’t seen you in eight years, but it’s like I never left. And trust me, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this comfortable around someone. I’ve tried dating, but everyone seems pretty bland in comparison to my best friend.”
Bucky didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing for a while and then figured it out. “You really mean that? ‘Cause it sounds an awful lot like the things you say when I daydream.”
“You daydream about me?” you asked, pulling away to look him in the eye.
He instantly missed your warmth, but he knew that if he played his cards right, you’d be cuddling with him a lot more. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to comb back errant strands.
“I should’ve kept my mouth shut,” he grumbled.
He sat cross-legged with his head down and smiled to himself while biting his bottom lip. He glanced up at your through his lashes, but his face wrinkled into a scowl when you started laughing.
“God, I never thought I’d be on the receiving end of the smolder.”
“I wasn’t smoldering,” he argued, looking like a deer caught in headlights.
“Yes, you were. I’ve seen that look on your face before. You do that when you’re flirting.”
Like a petulant child, he folded his arms across his wide chest and huffed, “You’re impossible.”
“You’re such a child!”
You leaned into him and tickled his sides. He clenched his stomach muscles and watched you try to make him laugh. When you realized he wasn’t going to budge, you took a page out of his book and huffed out indignantly.
Your annoyed gasp made him turn his head slowly. You narrowed your eyes playfully at him and he gave you his best Zoolander look. You burst out laughing and he joined you the next second.
The tension slowly left your bodies. It felt good to laugh after what you’d just talked about. Bucky had not planned to have an extended conversation with you about the kiss. Two hours ago, he didn’t even know you were back in town.
Finally, you both calmed down and wiped the tears from your eyes.
Without breaking eye contact with Bucky, you bent your head, moving until your lips were a breath away from his. He licked his lips and closed his eyes before you closed the distance.
He parted his lips, opened his mouth and allowed your tongue to slip into his mouth. His senses were saturated with the scent and taste of you.
You kissed him gently, tenderly and Bucky felt like he was floating in slow motion. He wrapped his arms around you and pulled you against him.
Bucky Barnes was still madly, terribly, wholeheartedly in love with you.
“When you’re goin’ back to New York?” he asked when you came up for air.
He found it hard to focus on anything when you started pressing kisses to the underside of his jaw, your head tucked into the crook of his neck.
“In a couple of days.”
He knew your life was in New York. You didn’t love your job, but it was only temporary. This job would soon become a springboard to something bigger and better.
At that exact moment, Bucky decided he’d never let you go again. He had done that in the past and he regretted it every day. He had not known that what you two had was a once-in-a-lifetime love.
“It’s getting’ late,” he said, kissing your temple. “I’m starvin’, let’s go eat somethin’. My treat!”
You gave him a questioning look. There were so many unanswered question, the biggest one of which was ‘What are we going to do now?’ He smoothed away the lines caused by your frown with his finger and promised you that everything would work out for the best.
There was nothing left for him in this town. His engineering degree was collecting dust, sitting unused in his drawer. Maybe New York was the answer to all his questions.