i know places

Ten minutes after Wanda leaves the bar, Bucky finds her. She's waiting for him on the corner of the street, a cigarette burning untouched between two fingers, her gaze stuck on the concrete, when she hears him call out her name and she lifts her head to find him only three or four steps away. He greets her with a smile and joins her by the wall, casually taking the cigarette from her hand, inhaling on it, then lifting his gaze up to the city.

He gets lost in it all for a minute and she leaves him to it, watching as he exhales a puff of smoke and then inhales again. Bucky finishes up with the cigarette a minute later and offers it back to Wanda but she doesn't want it now, she never really felt like it. She only lit it to distract herself, from all her nerves, and worries, and thoughts of him. But now that he's finally here all of that is gone and the only thoughts on her mind are ones of him.

Wanda watches him quietly, as he steps aside, stubs the cigarette out with his boot, then turns back to her with that same smile on his lips. It's only now that she sees it, sees how playful and happy he is despite the last ten minutes he spent back at the bar in a conversation she imagines can't have been all that comfortable. She's not sure what she expected from him after that but she didn't expect this, didn't expect clear eyes and sweet smiles.

She can see that he means it, too. He is happy to be here with her and he doesn't care about any awkward moments back at the bar. Bucky only cares that she's here with him, because he's been looking forward to this and maybe there was a part of him that thought she wasn't going to be here waiting for him when he got out. For a moment she felt that same worry, thought maybe he wouldn't come back after what happened back at the bar. But he did come back and right now that's all that matters.

"So that was fun. And by fun, I mean not fun at all. Let's not do that again ever, okay?" he smiles, letting out a heavy sigh. "I tried to play it cool, red. I really did. I was all like 'woah, what are you guys doing here? What do you mean you come here all the time? I come here all the time. Every day I'm here. Seriously, I pretty much live here'. Buuut, that didn't go down so well because it turns out they really do come here all the time and I'm pretty sure your brother is on to me—"

"It doesn't matter. Okay? What they believed, what they didn't, it doesn't matter." Wanda says, placing her hand on his cheek. "I don't want to think about any of that right now. I'm just glad that you're finally here. I don't care about anything else, just this."

Just you.

Wanda doesn't say it but she feels it and there's something in Bucky's eyes that tells her that he gets it, that he feels the same. He even smiles at her slowly, as her hand falls from his cheek and she stays close. If her touch lingers on his skin, if her unspoken words mean something to him, he doesn't let on. Bucky pulls himself together quickly, wrapping his arms around his chest and letting out a breath she imagines he's been holding in since Pietro and Clint first walked into the bar. Then slowly he begins to smile at her, in that sweet and familiar way that tells her exactly where this is going.

"And what about you? You excited to see me? Glad that I made it out okay?" he grins, walking closer. "You know, I had a pretty close call back there. I almost didn't make it out, with the way Clint insisted like a hundred times that I spend the night with them. He thinks I'm lonely. It was kinda depressing. But he kept buying me drinks, so that was good. But there was somewhere else I had to be."

She gives herself a minute to consider it, while she tries to hide her smile from him. It's just hard tonight and she can't hide it well, both because she finds him cute and because she's spent the day thinking about him, and missing him, and looking forward to this moment. That's why she finds it hard to hide her smile from him, so she turns away, pulls herself together, then looks back to find his smile intensely brighter and warmer, like somehow he knows every thought that just went through her head.

"Yes, I am. But mostly because of how much you have talked about it." Wanda teases, faintly smiling. "Now my expectations are very high and I'm not sure that you can meet them. Are you?"

A soft and almost nervous laugh comes from Bucky next, followed by what she thinks might be a hint of color rising in his cheeks. It fades away quickly and he comes closer, charming and confident again, all traces of nerves and color gone from his face for the moment.

"Yeah, doll. I think I can meet them, don't you worry about that. You just decide what you wanna do tonight, 'cause the night is yours and we can do anything you want."

Wanda smiles, already knowing exactly what she wants to do. She wants to spend the night with him, doing whatever they feel like. It doesn't matter what they do, just that they spend time together. It's been so long since she's let herself feel this way, so calm, so happy around someone else and she can see that she helps him feel the same way. When they're together it feels nice, it feels so good, and she never wants it to end. That's all she really wants, for this to last for as long as it can.

"Anything at all? Okay. No crowds and no people."

"No people?" he asks, grinning.

She shrugs. "It was a busy day."

Bucky doesn't seem to need more of an explanation than that, and at first she wonders if it's because he gets why she feels the way that she does. Then she catches a glimpse of something playful darting across his features and she realizes that she knows where this is going. Not because he is predictable but because she knows him, because she is beginning to know him better than she ever imagined that she could or would. It means more to her than she expects it to and she ends up needing a minute, distracted by her thoughts of him until he brings her back.

"Sure, I get it. What you're saying is, the only person you wanna be around right now is me?" he asks, smiling. "Wow, that's really nice. And not at all mean. You must be tired, let's go get some food into you. A coffee, maybe a beer, so we can bring back that side of you that loves to insult and offend me so much."

Then Bucky's hands are on her shoulders and he's turning her away from the bar and the corner of the street, with no warning or explanation at all, and at first Wanda can only laugh. She lets him lead the way for a minute, his touch soft and barely there, and she doesn't mind at all, but soon she gets curious and she turns back to catch a glimpse of him over her shoulder. Or she tries to look back at him, but it's tricky with the way he's guiding her down the busy street.

"When I said no people, I also meant you—"

"No, you didn't. But it's cute that you're trying to make it seem like you did." Bucky grins, walking her further down the street. "And hey, don't worry. I know a place, it's perfect for tonight. But first, to get there.."

He comes to a halt suddenly, a semi-serious look on his face, as his hands slip from her shoulders and he stays where he is right in the middle of the crowded street, unaware of all the crowds and strangers passing them by. Wanda can't bring herself to care too much about anything else, only Bucky standing close to her on the pavement, his gaze sweeping across the cars and bikes lined up along the street like he doesn't know how they're getting to their destination for the night.

It makes her think back to their past jokes of bikes, loud and annoying horns, and brightly colored tassels. She smiles thinking back on it before she follows his gaze out to the street, wondering which vehicle will be theirs for the night if this is serious and not another one of his jokes. She waits and waits for him to pick a car or bike out, but he doesn't. He just stands there, so obviously in the way, and after a minute Wanda gives in, grabs his hand, and yanks him over to the side of the path.

"Well?" she smiles, excited. "Where is this bike with the horn?"

Bucky's first response is to frown at her like he's lost and has no idea what she's talking about, but then he cracks and smiles down at her like he knows exactly what she's talking about. And it makes her realize that tonight it's the same for him. He can't hide his smiles, can't hide anything from her.

"Not sure I know what you're talking about." he smiles, half serious. "I thought we could hitch a ride. Maybe walk. Or we could always take your broomstick?"

She narrows her eyes, curious. "My, what?"

"Oh, come on. You gotta know this one. Sabrina. She had one, so I figured you would because you seemed kinda witchy. You know, not in a bad way. But like in a cool, um, style, sorta way—" Bucky stops, swallows, then goes on. "Like I'm pretty sure that after this failed joke, you're going to go home and cast a spell on me. Or maybe poke some pins or knives into a little teeny tiny doll of me. I don't know how it works. You're the witch, aren't you?"

Half a minute must go by before Bucky speaks again, and as he does she just stares at him, quietly amused and struggling to keep her smile to herself.

"You know I'm kidding, yeah? Also, I always thought Sabrina was a babe. So really, that's a compliment. You should be thanking me for the compliment, right?"

It makes her smile, even after she rolls her eyes and turns away from him. He follows, smile bright as he places his hands on her shoulders and starts to guide her down the street again, over to all the cars and bikes lined up near the curb. Bucky is only there for a moment before he speeds ahead a few steps, but she quickly follows and joins his side, bumping her shoulder gently into his.

"James, is there really a bike?" she asks, looking up at him. "Also you should know, I don't really like this new nickname."

"Fair enough, we'll stick with red then. And yeah, I'm a man of my word. So there's a bike." Bucky nods, slowly glancing back down at her. "Technically it's not mine and I wasn't allowed to decorate it, so that will have to wait 'till next time. But I can still give you that ride around the city I promised."

Her first instinct is to doubt it, to think that he is playing another game with her, and then he stops in front of one of the bikes and turns to smile at her and she knows that he's completely serious, that this bike is theirs for the night. And it's perfect. The bike is sleek and silver, with little streaks of black on it in places and two helmets resting on the seat, waiting for them. One black, one red. Bucky quickly scoops one up and holds it out to Wanda as she stands back on the curb, taking it all in.

"Here she is. Not as glorious as my old girl, but she's still good."

The bike is shiny and beautiful, and Wanda needs a minute just to take it all in. When she's done staring at the bike she turns back to Bucky, filled with excitement. She feels like at any minute she might burst with it, and for a moment she is so consumed with these feelings that she forgets about the nerves that linger beneath them. She knows why she's nervous, it's because she's never done anything like this before. She's always wanted to, always imagined that riding a fast bike around the city would feel good, but she never got around to doing it. And now here Bucky is, about to take her on a ride she's always dreamed of going on and she doesn't mean to let it get to her so much but she can't help it.

"This is really for us?" she asks, feeling wide-eyed and jittery. "This is real? Not a joke?"

Bucky nods, quick to answer. "Of course it's real. And yeah it's for us. That is, if you still wanna go on that ride."

She simply smiles back, watching Bucky as he walks over to her, slowly and a little cautious. It's like he can see the nerves coming off her and he's trying to both calm her and excite her. She appreciates it but tries to steady her nerves on her own by reminding herself how much she wants to do this. In the end it doesn't work and it turns out there's just one thing that helps her feel good about this again.

When Bucky smiles up at her, it all feels better. She feels good, feels calm, as she reaches for the helmet he offers her and watches as he pulls on his own. He returns a minute later to find Wanda fiddling with her helmet strap, but before stopping to help he takes her bag, puts it away in his back-pack, secures it to the back of the bike, and then he comes back to help her out.

She's still fiddling with the helmet when he joins her by the curb, amused and smiling down at her.

"How about we go for a quick ride, then go and get something to eat?" Bucky suggests, coming closer. "We've got the bike all night, I don't have to bring it back 'till tomorrow. So we can go wherever you want, we can do whatever you want. How's that sound, red? That sound good to you?"

Wanda nods, lips parted to answer, ready to tell him that it sounds great, when she loses it. He comes close to check her helmet, closer than she can remember him being, and for a second she thinks he's just trying to be annoying and then she realizes he's trying to look out for her, to make sure it's on right, and so she quickly loses her words and can only watch him. When he's done securing her helmet, he tilts his head back to look down at her and smiles, satisfied.

"Looks good. Fits good. Remember, hold on tight."

The he's moving again, stepping down off the curb and walking over to the bike to start it up. She doesn't join him right away and chooses to wait on the pavement, staying there until the bike is ready and then she joins him. Wanda feels as if she is filled half with nerves, half with excitement, as she climbs up on the back of the bike behind Bucky and wiggles forward, only now aware of how close they are here like this. It feels nice, feels more than nice, but she tries not to dwell on it for too long because she doesn't want to be distracted tonight.

She wants to be here with him, wants to remember all of it, so she clears her head and tries to focus. Then he turns over his shoulder to look back at her, his red helmet clipped on, a few strands of his dark hair blowing in the wind, and she forgets all about clearing her head and suddenly finds herself lost deep in thoughts of him.

"You want me to slow down, just let me know and we can slow down. Alright?" Bucky calls back, smiling. "And if you want me to stop, just say the word."

Wanda nods, feeling more excited than anything else. This will be good, she tells herself, over again, until she forgets all about her nerves. It will be good, and he will be here with her through it all, and that's all she needs to know to put her nerves away and let herself be happy.

"I will." she calls back. "Are we going now? We're ready?"

"Yep, we're good to go. Just stay close and hold on tight. And if you need anything just let me know."

Her hands are wrapped tightly around his waist before she even realizes how close they are and how tight she's holding on. It just happens, just feels right, so she lets herself come a little closer, lets herself rest her head against his shoulder as they start to move. It happens suddenly after that. One minute they're waiting by the curb, trying to break into the traffic, then seconds later they're riding through the city with her arms tight around his chest and somehow everything else just falls away and there's nothing left, only him.

* * * *

An hour later they end up in an empty parking lot, somewhere in a quiet part of the city that Wanda has never been to before, lost in the night and in each other. The air is cold and the city is loud, but the parking lot is mostly empty, except for a few stray cars, and it gives them the chance to be alone. To learn, to focus, and to try new things. It's just that Wanda is finding it a little hard to focus on what Bucky is still trying to teach her. She keeps struggling, keeps getting swept up in thoughts of Bucky and the warmth of his body against hers.

He's sitting behind her on the bike, pressed right up against her, arms stretched out over her and his hands placed on top of hers—to try to teach her, to show her where she should put her hands on the bike and how she should use them. He's trying to teach her to ride the bike because after the hours they spent riding through the city, stopping only for cigarettes or to admire the view, she begged him to teach her and he couldn't say no.

That's why they're here together now, with Wanda sitting at the front of the bike, her eyes stuck on the handles as her mind slowly begins to wander away again to other thoughts. To thoughts of Bucky, and his hands around her, and the softness of his voice as he keeps encouraging her and trying to help her learn how to do this, but she's still finding it a little tricky. Not just because it's a lot to remember, but because of the way she feels when she's around him like this.

Her heart is pounding intensely in her chest, from the adrenaline, from the warmth of being this close to him, and it feels good. Feels so good that she doesn't want to forget it, doesn't want it to end here, and for a moment she gets so swept up in it that she forgets to be here with him. His voice brings her back and reminds her of two things. The first is that she needs to focus if she wants to learn how to ride on her own and the second thing is that she is kind of terrible at this.

"Remember, your hands and feet are gonna do all the work. Stay focused but don't stress too much. It all feels natural after a while, you'll see." Bucky tells her, voice still warm, still kind, even if this is his third time going over things. "Always pay attention to where you are and to where everyone else is. When you're out on a bike, no one's looking for you. They're looking for cars and trucks, but not you, so always remember that. Always look out for yourself, okay?"

"Always look out. And don't stress." she nods, focused. "Okay, I understand. What else? What was next?"

"Okay, so. This hand, your left one—" Bucky pauses, giving that hand a squeeze. "—it's for the clutch, and this other guy over here, your right one, is for accelerating and braking. Left hand is also for signal but you won't need that tonight. You think it's sinking in this time?"

Wanda nods a little, trying to take it all in as she lifts her hands to the grips and repeats his words over again in her head. She wants to do this, to learn, but it's new and it's hard and that's one of the many reasons why she's glad that he's here with her tonight.

"I think so."

"Okay, great. Now remember, with your right hand you want to be delicate. You put it like this, twist the grip, then apply throttle. Easy, right?"

Bucky shows her how to do it after he tells her, then he shows her again just to be sure, and she so appreciates all the time and effort he is spending trying to teach her all of these things. Wanda thinks he must show her everything at least three or four times before she understands any of it but his patience never falters. He just keeps going, just keeps helping her until she's more familiar with it all, and then he moves on to what comes next.

"Now back to this guy on the right, he controls the front brake with this lever here." Bucky says, voice soft as he demonstrates how to do it. "You don't wanna yank it too hard. What you wanna do is use your hand to hold the break. I'll be there to make sure you don't pull it too hard. You don't wanna skid. But don't worry, I'll be here to make sure you don't."

"Don't worry, I am not worried." Wanda smiles, glancing back at him. "You are not such a bad teacher. I remember everything so far, or I think I do."

He smiles, relaxed for about three seconds, then he swings right back into focus.

"Well, thanks. So hey, with your feet, your right foot is gonna control the rear brake. When you stop, you gotta do it gently so just ease off the rear brake and use your right hand at the same time." he explains, shifting closer to show her where to place her hand. "Remember, just be gentle. You want it to be an easy, slow stop. Take your time getting used to it all. And if you're worried, don't be. I'll be here the whole time. You got any questions?"

"No, I'm good. I want to do this. So, let's do this?"

Bucky chuckles warmly then guides her hands forward again, placing them where they're supposed to be and staying close by, his hands still lightly curled over hers. His touch is still soft, still there and barely there at all.

"Great. Let's do this, red."

After they start up the engine together, there's a moment where Wanda feels like she forgets all of it. She forgets his advice and his instructions, and she panics, but Bucky doesn't mind. He quickly steps up to help Wanda and she feels so relieved that he's here and there's no pressure for her to be perfect at this, or to even want to try this on her own yet.

Somehow he just understands that she's a little overwhelmed and this is a lot to take in, and a minute later he takes control of the bike. Bucky makes adjustments to gears and levers out of sight, and after he releases the clutch they start to move again and it feels so different to the first time, even though she knows that it's really not. It's just being up here at the front of the bike that makes it all feel so different and so new.

She can't describe it, can't place it, not at first. It's exhilarating, and new, and so much more than she thought it would be, and having Bucky here with her makes her feel safe in a way that she hasn't felt in a long time. His hands stay over hers, resting on the clutch and throttle, and he stays close, stays right there until she's ready to take control.

Wanda's not sure why it happens when it does, but after a few minutes of circling around the empty lot, she feels ready and he knows it. She doesn't say it, so it must be something he picks up on because after guiding her hands to where they're supposed to be, he lets go and leaves her to take control. And it feels good, feels better than she ever imagined that it could. She thinks it might feel better having him this close, feeling him this close, with his hands on her waist and his body so close to hers.

He isn't holding on to her like she held on to him, it's different and she doesn't mind at all. Bucky's hands are soft but firm, placed on either side of her waist, just to be there, to hold on to her, but she still remains very much aware of his hold on her even as she takes them around the lot again. Wanda stays aware of the closeness, the warmth between them, even after she begins to drift away to other thoughts of the bike and how freeing this all feels.

For the first time in a very long time she somehow feels like she is free, and so alive, and she never wants it to end. She never wants to forget what this feels like so she keeps going, she drives them around the empty space for as long as she can, slowly growing more and more familiar with it all. Every now and then Bucky comes back to help her, reminding her of what to do and guiding her hands to the right places. He helps where she needs it but mostly she does it on her own and she credits that all to him and his patience.

Wanda knows she wouldn't be here doing this without him, and that thought stays on her mind as she circles the bike around the wide space and lets herself enjoy all the feelings bubbling up inside of her. She goes on like this for what feels like hours, until eventually she decides to stop and to pick this up again another time. Somehow he just seems to know that she's ready to slow down and he's there to help, stretching his hands over hers to work on slowing down the bike.

When finally stop they do it together and after it's all over Wanda can only think about how good it felt, how good it still feels. And then she turns back over her shoulder at Bucky, already smiling, and she discovers that he looks exactly how she feels.

Happy, and excited, and alive.

"Bucky, I can't say—that was, how it felt.."

He nods, smiling, as if to let her know that he's been there before and knows exactly how she feels. Then slowly he hops off the bike, removes his helmet, and digs into his pocket for a cigarette. Wanda stays where she is for now, smiling to herself as she stretches back on the bike, removes her helmet, and lets the wind rush over her. She spends a minute there, stretched back on Bucky's bike, head tilted up to the sky, breathless, and full of life, before eventually she seeks Bucky out. She finds him just a few steps away from the bike, already watching her.

"It was so much at once." she smiles, finding the words slowly. "So fast, so new. I want to do this again. Can we do this again? Please say yes."

Bucky laughs, the cigarette dangling from his lips as his eyes brighten and he glances over her, a new look on his face. He keeps it to himself but she sees other things there that she didn't see before. She sees that he is as relaxed and excited as she is right now and it's so nice to see him like this, especially when she thinks back to the way they were at the bar tonight, so tense, so awkward when they were almost caught. It's so much better now, so much better than last night, but she can't let herself go back there yet.

She can't go back to that moment, to the blood on his cheek and the dark bruises forming beneath it. She won't let them go back there. Tonight isn't about that, tonight is theirs. It isn't for old memories but for new ones, like this one. She already knows that after tonight is over she will always remember this moment and how it feels to be here with him right now.

"That's great, red. I'm glad you had such a good time." Bucky smiles, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "And hey, if you thought that was fast then I've gotta take you away from the city and to an open stretch of road one day. I can show you how fast these things really go, 'cause if you liked this then you'd really love that."

Then he falls quiet, a new thought on his mind, only for a moment. It comes and goes too quickly for Wanda to read. She watches as it disappears and he forces himself to come back here to her. He smiles, exhales a puff of smoke, then offers her the cigarette. She takes it even though she doesn't really want it. She thinks it's just habit, that she takes it and holds on for a minute. Wanda inhales a little as she climbs off the bike, then she hands the cigarette back to Bucky, smiles, and finds a place to stand by his side.

"Really, you did good. Not bad at all." he smiles, twirling around the half-finished cigarette. "I may even go so far to say that you didn't do all that bad for your first time. There are things you gotta work on, sure. But hey, only some of us can be perfect."

"Well, I only did so good because of you." Wanda pauses, smiling slowly. "Because you are such a good teacher. I owe it all to you, James."

For two or three seconds he tries not to smile, he really tries not to let it through. Then he turns away, rolling his eyes as he suppresses a laugh. Wanda finds herself smiling more, especially when he turns back to her and lets himself smile.

"See, when you say that stuff it makes my stuff sound mean." Bucky grins, still faintly serious. "You really did do good though. For a while there, you didn't even need me at all. You did good, red. You should be proud."

She finds herself suddenly wanting to thank him for all of this, to let him know what it means, but it means more than she can put into words right now. She thinks even if she could that she wouldn't need to, that he'd never ask or need her to say it, because he already knows what it means. Bucky gets it in his own way, that it was more than a ride around the city and learning something new in an empty parking lot. It was new, something she never thought she would do, and it's been so long since she tried doing something new that she forgot it could feel like this.

Wanda forgot it could feel this good.

"Hey, do you wanna grab a bite to eat now? I know a place, could be good." Bucky asks, what feels like a while later. "It's different from the place we were gonna go, but it's still good. That other place was on the other side of town. But this place, it's closer. Hey, am I saying place too much? Kinda feels like I am. It's starting to sound weird now, you know when you say a word too much and—"

"Yes." she smiles, coming closer. "I would like that, it sounds like a nice place. Let's do that."

Bucky smiles back down at her, before stepping away to stub out the cigarette and discard it. Then he joins her, walking with her back over to the bike. As they walk there together she finds herself silently hoping that they might come back here and try this again sometime.

By her side, Bucky brings her back by leaning in and bumping his shoulder into hers. His touch is soft but the bump is unexpected and sends her forward a few steps. She quickly steadies herself and turns back to him, smiling.

"Hey."

"That was for earlier. You thought I'd forget but I didn't." Bucky shrugs, offering her a smile. "So, wanna go get drinks now? We can take the bike there, have a couple drinks, then I'll come back for the bike in the morning if I get too wasted. That sound good to you?"

Wanda nods, feeling a surge of excitement rush through her at the thought of the night ahead of them. She knows that he can see it, her visible excitement, what this means to her. It's there in everything she does and says, and even in the way that she smiles at him. He can feel it too and he knows he's the reason it's there.

"That sounds good. Let's go?"

"Let's go. You hop on back this time, okay?" Bucky grins, bumping his shoulder into hers again. "Because yeah, you're good and all but for now I'll stick to the roads. You can stick to the parking lots. Sound good?"

Wanda smiles, answering him by shoving him gently towards the bike. He laughs and follows her there, easing himself down onto the bike and clipping his helmet on. After he's settled Wanda climbs on, locking her hands around his chest where she held on before, where she's wanted to put her hands back ever since. It feels good being here with him, being this close. She lets out a breath and settles in, aware of Bucky's silence and her own as he starts up the bike and begins to take them back out into the city.

She wants this, she realizes it now. She wants this, and him, even if there's a chance that it could all go wrong. Her life has been filled with so many bad things and so much pain that she finds herself longing for this, because it's so different from everything else and it's so good for her, for both of them. She feels better around him than she has in months and she knows it's not just because of Bucky but because of who she is when she's around him and what he brings out in her. It's only now that she really feels the weight of it all, what it means, what she wants, and how she doesn't want to let go.

* * * *

"I want a rematch, Maximoff. Me, you, the dartboard. Five minutes. Loser buys the drinks. I like whiskey. Got it?"

From where she's sitting reclined into the soft booth, Wanda can only smile up at Bucky as he joins her, carrying the drinks back from the bar with him. A red wine for her and a bottle of beer for himself. He sinks into the green booth carefully, places the drink down on the table, lets out a sigh, then glances up at Wanda with a look on his face that lets her know he's still waiting for his answer and he's very serious about this challenge, even after all the games of darts he just lost.

Thinking back on it makes her smile, as her gaze briefly moves away from Bucky and back out to the little dive-bar they ended up in after their last ride around the city. The place is small and not crowded at all, and of all the bars she's been to this one isn't all that bad. With an old jukebox playing in the corner of the room, a small crowd of people scattered between the pool table and the dartboard, and another group watching the TV at the bar, it's a nice little space and she feels glad that of all the places he could have taken her that tonight he wanted to bring her here.

The thought reminds her of Bucky and she quickly seeks him out again, finding him still sitting across from her in the booth, watching her as he waits for his answer. Wanda smiles more at the realization that he's spent the last few seconds waiting for her answer, but before she gives it to him she decides to make him wait a little longer. She reaches for her wine, drinks a sip, places it aside, then turns back to Bucky to find his expression easy to read. His curiosity is clear, right there with his impatience, and finally he cracks. He comes closer, resting both elbows on the table, eager to know her answer.

"Well? You up for the challenge or not?"

Wanda smiles, shrugging as she pretends to think it over. She stops for another sip of wine, puts the glass away again, and then sinks back comfortably into the seat while staying very much aware of how impatient Bucky is right now. His gaze follows her every move, waiting for her answer, waiting to know if she's going to accept his challenge.

"I'm not sure. You aren't so good at losing, so I don't think this is a good idea." she answers soon, amused. "I think it would be too embarrassing, and you have suffered enough of that tonight. Haven't you? I know that I have."

Five or six different thoughts and emotions flicker through his eyes, bright and fleeting, before he settles on one.

"Hey, that's just—well that's just not true." he's quick to say, voice playful. "And that's actually kinda mean. I have to say it's kinda harsh, red. I didn't know you had in you."

"Are you sure?" Wanda asks, smiling. "Are you sure that it isn't just a little true?"

Bucky nods, certain. "You can ask anyone and I guarantee that they'll tell you the same thing. I'm a pro at darts. Unbeatable. So, maybe I just.." he stops, nearly smiles, and then goes on. "Maybe I was just going easy on you. You ever think about that? Oh, I bet you did. That's so typical. That's just like you, isn't it? So typical."

His answer makes her smile, makes her want to burst out laughing, because he is so sweet and so silly with her. But mostly it's because she is so curious about where this is going and she decides to indulge him and see where this takes them.

"Okay, so maybe you were. Maybe you are right." she nods, thinking it over. "But what would be the point? Why would you want to embarrass yourself in front of so many people?"

This time Bucky doesn't answer so quickly. She smiles more, watching as he spends half a minute thinking over her answer while also working out his own. In the end he finally figures out what it is that he wants to say and somehow it turns out to be exactly what she thought it would be.

"Because I'm a gentleman?"

He says it like it's the only answer, the only possible explanation about why he lost, so badly, so many times, at so many games. And even though she wants to laugh, to keep playing, she just ends up smiling again.

"Oh, really? Well I am sure you think that. And I am sure that all of your dates think that you are the perfect gentleman."

For some unknown reason, the answer surprises him. Wanda says it lightly, to tease him and to play with him as he does with her, but this time it seems to mean something to him. She watches quietly as Bucky looks away, only for the briefest second, down to the table between them where she only now becomes aware of the scratches and dents in the wood. She watches his eyes flicker over the marks before he looks up at her again, smile still there just a little softer this time.

"What about you, doll?" he asks soon. "What do you think?"

"I think..." Wanda stops, smiles, then goes on. "I think that you are not so good at darts. That is what I think."

Bucky laughs this time, louder than he has all night, and she cherishes the sound. Loves it, even. Has grown familiar with it, in ways she never thought possible. She feels consumed by it and by him, as he laughs in a way that is both sweet and soft. When he's done laughing at her joke, he lets out a sigh and folds his hands together across his chest, looking happier than she has ever seen him. And she doesn't know why but for a minute afterwards she can only watch him, can only let herself be consumed by what she feels lingering in the air between the two of them.

She thinks it's always been there, her feelings, soft and unspoken. She's never voiced them, not to him, not really to herself, but she knows what they are and they are very much real. Wanda doesn't want to ignore what she feels, she never could, not even after that night she kissed him out on the street and he ran away. It's just that after that night she finds herself needing to know more. She needs to know that he feels what she does, even after everything.

They've spent so much time together already, on the phone, in her bed, out on the streets. Talking, and laughing, and telling stories to make each other smile and laugh more than they have in years. It's been so different with him, it's been something else entirely, but she still needs more. Wanda still needs to know with certainty that he feels what she does, or that he at least feels something for her. It's just been so long since she opened herself up to someone else that she needs to know with certainty what he feels before she even thinks about opening herself up in that way again.

"Like I said, maybe I was going easy on you." Bucky says, what feels like a while later. "Or maybe I was off my game 'cause I was distracted."

"Distracted?" she smiles, amused. "By, what? How terribly you were losing? Okay, that I believe."

"No, not that. It wasn't that. You really have to ask?"

Then he gives her a look, something small that she reads easily, because he means for her to, because he wants her to know exactly what he means. You, is what he doesn't say, what lingers in the air between them. Distracted by you. She lets herself think about it, lets herself get lost in it, even after her gaze shifts down to her hands and she starts to play with a silver ring on her pointer finger.

It makes her nervous. His gaze, his words, all of it. Wanda doesn't know why, not really, but for a minute afterwards she is quiet. She tells herself that it's because of what she feels, what she hopes he feels for her. If Bucky picks up on her silence or finds it odd how quiet she suddenly is then he says nothing. He just sits in the silence with her, happy to leave it until a new thought comes to him.

"Hey, remember you were gonna teach me?" Bucky points out, smiling. "I don't know how seriously you take promises but I take them pretty seriously. A promise is a promise. Remember?"

Wanda looks up almost right away, her attention both on Bucky and on the memory of him in her apartment, so curious and so eager to learn Sokovian. She remembers thinking he was joking again, but she sees now that he wasn't and he is very serious about learning this even though he has no idea what language he's even asking to learn.

"You meant that?"

Bucky nods, serious. "Hell yeah. I still do. Teach me something? You can go easy on me if you want but you don't have to. I've been told I'm a fast learner."

"Okay, sure. Um. Something easy.." she pauses, thinking it over. "Here is something: Nebo je plavo."

He spends a minute thinking it over, silently testing out the words before he says them, and when he finally does repeat the small phrase he does it so perfectly that at first she's a little surprised by how good he is at repeating these new and unfamiliar words. Then she lets herself think about it, she lets herself think about Bucky and that quiet spark of curiosity that's always been there, always been inside of him, and she decides that she isn't really all that surprised. It's just who he is, it's that deep and endless curiosity that he carries to always learn and know more, that must make this so easy for him.

It's pretty impressive and Wanda can't help but smile, watching him in a soft awe as he repeats the words again and again until they flow perfectly from his lips.

"Nebo je plavo." he repeats again, smiling slowly. "What's it mean? Wait, I know. It means I'm cute, doesn't it? Oh, it so does. I knew this t-shirt looked good on me."

"It means...The sky is blue."

Bucky's half smile falters before growing, becoming brighter as he reaches for his bottle of beer and takes a sip. When he's done he puts the drink away and looks back to her, eyes glowing curiously, smile still there.

"I mean, okay. That's good, too. I guess. Why don't you try one this time? Here, this one is easy. Try this: Nebo goluboye."

Sky is blue.

She smiles slowly, both because of what the words mean and at the realization that there is so much that she doesn't know about him. There must be so many things, so many secrets and stories, that she doesn't know about him yet and she wants to know them all. She wants to know everything and she hopes that one day she will.

"You know Russian?" Wanda smiles, curious.

His eyes light up. "Yeah, I do. You never said you knew it. That's, uh. That's neat." Bucky pauses, chewing on his lip. "Teach me something else? Something in, uh..What was that?"

"Sokovian." she says, what feels like hours later. "It was Sokovian."

Wanda watches as it happens, as the recognition fills his eyes and he tries to cover his reaction with a smile. It doesn't really work but she doesn't mind, not all that much. She knows why it's there, just like she knows what he must be thinking about now. Sokovia and the war, the bombs, all the chaos and death that followed. She tries to distract herself, tries to stay away from those thoughts, but somehow she ends up right back there in the memories of her old home and Bucky seems to get that. In his own way he understands that this isn't something she wants to dwell on tonight, so he helps to pull her out of it.

"Why don't you teach me a few more things?" he suggests, an obvious attempt to distract her. "Tell me how to say...Good morning?"

"Dobro jutro."

Smiling, he tests the word out on his tongue.

"Dobro jutro. Ah, look at that. That was good, wasn't it?"

Wanda nods, slowly smiling back at him. She doesn't know how or why but somehow she already feels better and something tells her that it's all because of him.

"It was not bad."

"Not bad? It was great. I'm a natural." Bucky grins, between sips of beer. "Teach me something else? How about...Good bye?"

"Doviđenja."

Once again he repeats the word perfectly, as if he has always spoken Sokovian and all of this is easy for him. And it's nice to hear it, it feels familiar, like he's always talked Sokovian to her. It makes her happy, she realizes soon, to share this piece of her past with him. It feels better than she expects it to and she ends up feeling glad that she let herself teach him these few words tonight.

"You're a fast learner." she says, smiling proudly.

"Guess so. Like you with the bike. You were good with that." Bucky smiles back, sinking down into his seat. "So tell me, what are you doing working at a bar? You're bilingual. You seem like you have some real skills. And I'm not saying working a bar isn't great, I know it is. It's just that you're so young and you seem like.."

Wherever he is going, whatever he means to say, he forgets. That or he decides not to go on, because he picks up on something from her that lets him know this isn't a conversation that she wants to have right now. She's not tense, not really, but she feels something rise up inside of her that she's felt before. It's always there in her conversations with her brother and Clint, and even the strangers at the bar that try to offer her their unwanted advice. She remembers those conversations well, the ones about what she could be doing, what they all think she should be doing, because she is so young and filled with potential.

"I seem like, what?" she asks quietly.

Bucky shrugs, tentative. "You just seem like you could be doing some really great, cool things. You know? It's just an observation, feel free to ignore it. You should probably ignore it, actually. I'm really not so good at this advice thing."

I am happy enough, she thinks, and wants to tell him, because it's the truth. She is happy enough with her job, she has no reason not to be. The pay is good, the work isn't bad most days, and she works with nice people. The bar is close to her apartment so she never has to go too far and she's been there for so long that she can't imagine doing anything else.

Maybe once, maybe for a moment, she had dreams of doing something more. More than this, more than what her life has become, but not anymore. She's happy enough where she is and she doesn't see any point in getting lost in thoughts of what could have been.

"I am not that young. And I am happy where I am."

He nods, half-smiling. "Sure. Well, that's good. That's all that matters in the end, that you're happy. That's what counts, red."

As the quiet floods back into the air between them, Wanda finds herself faced with a decision—to get lost in her head and the thoughts that linger, or to stay here with Bucky tonight and enjoy every moment, every second, every breath. She quickly decides that what she wants is to be here with him. This night, this date, is for the two of them. It's not supposed to be about the past or thoughts of what could have been, it's supposed to be about the two of them having rounds of drinks, playing games, and going on bike rides around the busy city.

She's been waiting for this night for so long that she doesn't want to be distracted, doesn't want to be anywhere else. She wants him, wants to laugh and to drink with him. And she wants to dance. The realization comes to her slowly and she soon glances up to Bucky with a smile, knowing exactly where this is going.

"So, are you going to show me?"

It takes about two seconds for Bucky to start smiling at her and as he does she knows right away where his mind is going and she can't stop herself from smiling back at him.

"Show you, what? Oh. That?" Bucky pauses, clearing his throat. "I have to say, that's pretty forward. It's pretty out there. Even for me."

"How you dance." she's quick to say. "I want to see you dance, after you spent so much time bragging about it. I have to see it."

Bucky's smile falters before slipping entirely and for a moment he just stares at her, convinced that she's joking, waiting for her to laugh and to tell him that she's only being silly. But she isn't and he quickly realizes it.

"Wait, what? You want me to dance? Here?"

Seconds later he glances out at the bar, his gaze sweeping quickly across the mostly empty space like he's looking for a reason, for an excuse, to not have to dance here tonight. He doesn't find one, she knows that he won't, and soon he looks back to her, half-smiling and resigned to his fate.

"Alright, fine. You want me to dance? I'll dance for you. But when people realize we're here together, you're gonna be so embarrassed and that's not my fault." he says, offering her a sympathetic grin. "Just remember that when things get awkward, I'm not the one who's going to suffer from my bad dancing. That's going to be all you. Got it, sweetheart?"

Wanda smiles back at him, trying not to laugh too much as he wiggles out to the end of the booth and stands up. Once he's up on his feet Bucky shrugs off his coat, pretends to stretch his arms and legs a little, and then he swiftly walks around to her side of the booth and extends a gloved hand to her, a silent invitation to join him. She doesn't move. She just laughs, pretending not to understand what it is he's waiting for.

"Well? Are you coming or not?" he asks, an eyebrow raised. "We haven't exactly got all night. The more I drink, the worse I dance. Or maybe it's the other way around. I guess we'll see. You in?"

"What? No, I'm not in—"

"Yeah, come on. Come on." Bucky smiles, leaning in. "You're not gonna make me dance on my own, are you?"

Then suddenly he's reaching for her hand and trying to pull her up to her feet, trying to get her to come and dance with him, but she doesn't move at all. Wanda doesn't know how exactly she manages to stay in her seat and not move at all, not even a little, but she does and after Bucky realizes that she isn't budging he sighs and glances down at her with a look on her face that lets her know he really doesn't want to do this without her.

"Hey, come on. You bragged about your dancing, too. Remember? So it's only fair you have to dance with me. Just one dance, I won't ask ever again."

Wanda hesitates, glancing him over. "Just one?"

"Just one. Scouts honor." Bucky promises, sweet and semi-serious. For about two seconds. "Not that I was ever a scout, but I still swear it. Come on, let's do this before I lose my nerve."

Half a second later she's up on her feet, walking with Bucky over to the small space near their booth where everything is dark and quiet. There, he takes her hands and holds them gently, to dance with her, to bring her close, and suddenly it's like there's nothing else. No one else, only Bucky and his sweet smile. And his soft hands, reaching for her, holding her close.

His touch is gentle as he takes her left hand to hold it with his right, while his other hand ends up on her waist, in the middle of her back, brushing lightly against her spine like he's barely touching her at all. She soon realizes that he is barely touching her, that there is still some distance left between them, and for some reason it makes her smile.

Wanda thinks it must be because of all of his jokes and comments about being a gentleman. She's always teased him about it, always enjoyed their little jokes, but at the same time she's always known that he really is one. He is sweet, and kind, and he's been good to her. He's been so good to her.

The thought makes her smile and she gets lost in it, until she becomes aware of Bucky watching her and she notices that he's frowning. He looks like he is both curious about what's on her mind and at the same time he believes he already knows what she's thinking about and for some reason he's pretending to be offended by it.

"What? What is it?" he quizzes, defensive. "You don't like my dancing? Already?"

She rolls her eyes, still amused, as she lets herself come closer to him. Wanda places a hand on his forearm, leaving the other locked gently around his, and after she lets herself get close to him they begin to sway to the music. Gently, back and forth, to another old song she doesn't recognize.

"I was thinking about you," she pauses, holding his gaze. "And how you are a such gentleman."

Bucky's eyes sparkle with curiosity, even as he laughs and turns away like he doesn't buy it. When he looks back to her, he still seems unconvinced that this is really what was on her mind. Then slowly his smile softens, becoming warmer and more relaxed, and she quickly forgets about everything else.

"So you do think I'm a gentleman?"

"Maybe." she nods, smiling. "Only sometimes, only for moments."

He laughs again, amused, but there's something different about it. Something nervous, she thinks, maybe for a moment. Then his laugh turns sweet, and warm, and it's such a beautiful sound that she needs a minute just to remember it.

"I think that might be the nicest thing you ever said to me, red."

Wanda smiles back at him slowly but it doesn't last for long, doesn't come across the way that she means for it to, and she knows why. It's the butterflies back in her stomach. She feels them everywhere and she knows why they're back again now. It's Bucky and what he makes her feel, what he brings out in her. It's something she's felt around him before in the quiet little moments they've spent around each other. She thinks that it's always been there, from the first moment they met until now, and she's just more aware of it tonight because of their date and the way he's smiling at her right now.

And it scares her because it's been so long since anyone looked at her like that. She doesn't want that though, she doesn't want to be afraid of what she feels, or what he feels, so she tries to forget about her fears. Wanda tries to distract herself from the thoughts and butterflies that linger but it doesn't work, it never does, so instead she tries to find something to say, anything at all to take the silence away. She thinks of something eventually but it really doesn't come across the way that she means for it to.

"So, do you come here often?"

Slowly Bucky smiles down at her, amused and a little curious. If there is something on his mind that he wants to ask her, he doesn't. He says nothing and stays close, his hand warm on her back, the other light around hers, as a sweeter smile grows on his lips.

"Are you trying to pick me up, Wanda? It kinda feels like that's what you're trying to do. And if you are I have to say..." he pauses, grins, and goes on. "I'm totally down for it. Let's go. I'll grab the keys, you grab the drinks. Your place or mine? Your bed is much better than mine, so I'm thinking your place. Just because your bed works wonders on my back."

Wanda knows almost right away that he's joking, that this is his way of trying to help her relax while making her smile. And it works. She laughs, lost briefly in his smile, before she shakes her head and gently nudges him in the chest.

"I'm being serious." she says, still faintly smiling. "You seem familiar with this place, like you come here often. That's all I meant."

"Sure, I come here sometimes. You really like this place, huh? I didn't know if you would."

"You seem surprised." she points out. "What, do your other dates not like it here?"

The question seems to amuse him, more than she expects it to, since she didn't really say it as a joke. He laughs almost right away though, a soft but deep chuckle that echoes through his chest, before he begins to smile again, in a way that lets her know there's something on his mind and he plans to share it with her.

"You know I really hate to be the one to tell you that you're wrong," he pauses, grinning. "But the thing is, you're wrong. I don't date, not anymore, not really."

Curiosity sparks up inside of her and she immediately feels a longing to know, to ask why, but she soon decides against it and keeps her questions to herself for another night. Not just because it doesn't feel like the right time but also because of a look that she catches in his eyes that lets her know this isn't something that he wants to talk about tonight. Wanda gets it, so she finds a way to answer without making it hard for him. She answers him the only way that she can right now.

"I don't really date either."

He smiles back at her slowly, quiet for a minute before he speaks again, and he doesn't have to say it but she can tell that her answer means something to him. Just knowing that she gets it, that someone else understands, means more to him than he can say.

"Oh, well..Lucky me."

Then he lets himself come closer and as he does Wanda finds herself slowly becoming more aware of the little things that she missed before. Things like the glow of the bar lights reflecting in his eyes, the softness of his smile, and that look on his face that lets her know that there's still something on his mind waiting to be shared. It feels different to before, to what was once there, in ways she can't understand. So she waits. Wanda gives Bucky the time to think it over, enjoying the quiet, enjoying this moment, until eventually he finds a way to let her know what's on his mind.

"Look, the thing is, I don't really know how to say this. But I like you. I really like you, Wanda, and I like spending time with you." Bucky says, jaw tight, eyes glued to her. "I don't know how to show it. Truth is, I don't think I've been showing it at all. But it's just because it's been so long and I'm so bad at this stuff. I just..I wanted you to know what I felt, even if I am really bad at all of this, whatever this is."

Wanda shakes her head, quiet as they stop swaying. She wants to come closer to him, to take it all in and let herself feel what he's saying, to hear it and know that he means it. But for a moment she can't, because she is so surprised that they are finally here together. For so long it's felt like they might never end up here, because of all the time they spent dancing around this thing between them, pretending, and forgetting, and trying not to feel what is so obviously there between them, what has always been there. And now somehow they're here and he's letting her know how he feels, and it almost means more than she's ready to feel tonight.

"You are not..So bad at it."

"Really? Because it's been a long time and sometimes I feel like I don't know what the hell I'm doing." he sighs, a little less nervous. "So I guess I just didn't know if I was being obvious, or not obvious at all, and it's just so hard to know the balance—"

"It's okay. You did okay. You did more than that. You did good." Wanda smiles, squeezing his forearm gently. "I thought maybe I picked up on little things, but I don't know. I think maybe I have just been trying to be careful, so I missed the signs. Or maybe I just pretended not to see them so I wouldn't make a mess of things."

She watches as it happens, as he takes it all in. He struggles with it, with whatever new thought is on his mind, and she tries to read him but she can't. It's too difficult, he's too hard to read. Too many fast and faraway emotions flicker through his eyes, gone before she can get close, and for so long she doesn't understand what they are and then slowly it comes to her.

"Careful?" he asks, briefly tense. "Of, what? Me?"

"No, not you. Never of you. I was being careful for us, because of all the things we said." she admits, staying close. "Things about not wanting mess or complications. But then I kissed you, and you came back, and I knew what I wanted. But I still think that I was trying to be careful, trying to do the right thing, for both of us."

It's the truth, it's how she's felt since he left that night, and sharing it with him after so long feels good. It feels freeing, to finally let Bucky know how she felt that night, how she's felt ever since. He came back the next day but he still left and that's why she's been so soft, so tentative with him, always making sure that her touch never lingered for long, because she didn't want to risk pushing him away again.

Wanda doesn't want that to happen again, she doesn't want him to walk away like he did that night. It's why she hasn't acted on her feelings, why she swore to herself she never would, not until she knew what he felt and even then she'd never been sure what she would do. But she sees it now, sees what he feels, she sees everything.

And with the way he's looking at her now she knows that he sees all of her, sees exactly what she does in him. Her feelings, her worries, her fear that he would leave again. Bucky takes it all in and comes closer, his hand still loosely clutching hers as if he's afraid of letting go. She's glad that he hasn't, she's grown used to the feeling of his hand around hers and isn't ready for him to let go just yet.

"What happened outside your apartment, the way I left, that's not gonna happen again." Bucky says, words soft, just for her to hear. "I almost screwed things up that night but I'm not gonna do that again. I should have made it clear what I was feeling, what I still feel. I should have said something sooner, I'm sorry that I didn't."

Wanda sighs, quiet, as she lifts her hand to his jaw and places it there. He doesn't flinch, doesn't even seem to remember last night's wound on his face, just inches from where her fingers settle on his skin. Bucky just watches her, softening at her touch.

"You don't have to say sorry. You didn't do anything. You didn't screw anything up that night."

"No, but I did. I kinda did." he says, jaw tight again. "The way I left that night, I almost ruined things between us."

"You could never do that. You didn't ruin anything." Wanda smiles, smoothing her thumb over his jaw. "It was only a moment, but that's okay. Moments end and begin again, it's a part of life. You didn't ruin anything."

He nods and lets out a breath, clearly less nervous now, and then he starts to smile again and it makes her so happy to see it and to know that he is here and he doesn't want to run from this, from whatever it is and wherever it leads them.

"Okay, so let me get this right. What you're saying is...I'm gonna get a chance to kiss you again. That's what you're saying to me right now, red?"

She smiles back at him slowly, just as they begin to dance again. Bucky puts his arm around Wanda and brings her closer, his hand on her waist as they start to sway, back and forth like they never stopped at all. And it's only after half a minute of swaying that she realizes that the butterflies are almost gone. Still there but quieter, less fluttery against her ribs. She knows why she feels better, knows that it's because of him.

"Are you trying to pick me up, James?"

Warmth fills his light eyes gradually as he begins to smile. It's tentative at first, uncertain and a little nervous like she was, like she still is, then his smile begins to soften and turn warm. He relaxes slowly, his hand still pressed gently above her waist as he lets himself come close again. Bucky leans in just enough that for the next few seconds it really does feel like they're alone here and there's nothing else.

Just the two of them.

"Yeah, maybe. Maybe I am, maybe that's exactly what I'm doing." he smiles, gaze close. "If I was, how would you feel about it?"

"I would think...Lucky me."