Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Together with their families
Charlotte Rhys Nichols and Eric Matthew Paulson
joyfully invite you to their wedding
Saturday, April 15th
4:30 p.m.
San Diego Mission Bay Resort
San Diego, California

Dinner and dancing to follow

Leo stared down at the gorgeous, cream and gold foiled invitation in her hand, a feeling of dread coursing through her as her phone vibrated in her pants pocket. Weddings, fancy dresses, the pressure of finding a date… None of this was her scene. Not to mention, it was one of her closest college friends. Charlie was getting married, and that alone was enough to stress her out.

She fought the urge to ignore the feeling that was bubbling up, tilting her wrist, checking her watch as it displayed the latest message from Charlie. Speak of the devil.

Charlie (7:45am): Hope you got the invite. Don’t forget you have a +1 and I want you to use it 😉

“Fuuuuuck,” Leo muttered under her breath, the word slipping out before she could stop it. She was not able to deal with this at all right now.

Forcing herself to focus, she stuffed the envelope into her bag and tried to push it out of her mind as she left her apartment and started the quick trek across the Avengers compound to her office.

It wasn’t that far of a commute, thankfully. The cold morning air stung her cheeks, and the crunch of her boots on the salted path filled her ears as she made her way to her office’s building. Swiping her badge at the security checkpoint, she went through the motions: scan, badge, polite nod to the guard, head to the elevator. Two minutes after she was supposed to be at her desk, she emerged from the elevator and hurried to sit down.

Not bad for nearly having a panic attack ten minutes ago.

She sat down at her desk and tucked her bag away, turning on her computer and pulling up everything she’d need for the day.

She’d been in the tech development department at the Avengers Initiative for two years. When the compound opened up and her team moved, she went along for the ride, and she actually liked it compared to her small apartment she’d been renting in Queens. It was nice to be away from the craziness of the city and the chaos of her personal life.

Her day to day involved documenting the department’s designs, acting as the bridge between the engineers and the Avengers themselves. Part technical writer, part product specialist. She understood the tech and could demonstrate any device’s use with ease, but didn’t actually have to put herself out in the field like the actual heroes did. 

Leo liked the background. She kept her head down, solved problems, and let the heroes have the spotlight. While she worked with the Avengers, she wasn’t super close with any of them. They knew her name, offered her casual smiles in passing, and were generally polite. Some more than others, but everyone was pretty courteous.

A glance at her unread emails, however, threatened to throw off her entire day. She groaned, running a hand over her face. It was going to be one of those days.

The team had been hard at work with a round of upgrades to the Avengers’ suits and accessories, so she was working nonstop. And apparently, Bucky Barnes was at his wit’s end with the new scope for his sniper rifle.

From: Jim Porter
To: Leonora Hughes

FW: RE: RE: scope upgrade - round 5

Leo–

Looping you in here, new specs for Sgt Barnes’ scope request. Please take a look when you get a chance. He’s due out in the field in 4 days. Wants to test it before. Meet with him for a demo asap, please.

-JP

In the forwarded emails, her boss, Jim, had been going back and forth with the engineers and Bucky on this new enhanced scope.

His messages were short and to the point.

From: James Barnes
To: group_avengers-engineering

RE: scope upgrade - round 5

Still not calibrating right. Not taking it into the field until it's working unless you want me to put everyone at risk.

jb

Then there were six emails between the engineers, one “no” reply from Barnes, and three more from the engineers before she got back to the email from her boss.

Apparently, Barnes thought it wasn’t calibrating correctly and needed fixes or enhancements. It was supposed to scan his retina and work seamlessly with his beyond perfect vision, but he insisted it was more of a hindrance than a help.

She’d already explained how it worked to him, brought in when it was first given to him six months ago, then again every time it was handed off with their supposed fixes. She winced at the memories. He’d been so… intense.

Barnes was… very serious when it came to his weaponry. Out of all the Avengers she worked with, he was the most thorough when it came to making the most out of the time she spent with them.

Clint would pay attention just enough to get the gist of the new arrows she would bring him, then complain when something unexpected happened because he hadn’t gotten all of the information.

Natasha listened intently, but rarely had follow up questions and always tested on her own.

Steve, bless him, took his own notes in a notebook that was comically too small for his large hands.

But Bucky Barnes insisted that Leo showed him how it worked first. She would talk him through it step by step, showing him everything, and then he would do it himself with her supervision, asking questions and filling in any gaps along the way. He’d find her after using the item in the field to give feedback or ask something else.

Needless to say, he was thorough.

They'd been working together for the past six months, and she liked to think that they got along pretty well. Or as well as Barnes could get along with a coworker, from what she’d heard. 

Bucky Barnes had been different from the other Avengers.

At the beginning, it was silent in between tests, during target resets, and whenever they didn’t have anything work related to discuss. She wanted to respect his boundaries, so despite the fact that she usually liked to chat, she kept quiet.

But after a month and a half, he started to ask about her day, or other projects she was working on. He’d told her that he could call him Bucky, instead of Sergeant Barnes or James.

Leo liked her meetings with him now. Over the weeks, he’d opened up bit by bit and now whenever they’d pass each other on the grounds, he’d offer her a nod and a smile, or even a quick “hi, how’s it going?”

More than once, she'd looked up to find his intense gaze fixed on her. It wasn't a leer or an appraisal. It was like he was trying to solve a complex equation, and for a reckless moment, Leo wondered if she was the problem he was trying to solve.

Based on what she’d heard about other people’s interactions with the sergeant, they were practically best friends.

Bucky didn’t use the internal company messenger, and he rarely looked at his email, so Leo usually called him or went and found him personally.

She had a few other things to take care of first, so she worked through those before she decided it was time to go looking for him.

Taking a look at her phone first, Leo sighed.

Her screen lit up with a handful of text notifications, her group chat of friends, Charlie excluded, was absolutely wild, and she had a few texts of side conversations one on one with people in that group text.

[gossip girls]

Roxy (9:48am): Did anyone else get Charlie’s invite?!

Cosette (9:49am): Y E S. FINALLY!

Eliza (9:52am): i know i KNOW. she sent me a text about a plus one. like, she knows who i am, right?

Cosette (9:53am): i can’t wait. brb updating my dating profiles so i can snag a date to bring. Rox u bringing Dylan?

Roxy (9:55am): obv, he’s my literal husband.

She swiped out of the conversation and went into her unread messages from Cosette.

Cosette (9:50am): HELLO

Cosette (9:50am): DID U GET THE INVITATION

Cosette (9:50am): what are u gonna wear

Leo laughed, of course Cose was asking about outfits.

Leo (9:53am): TBD. It’s like, two months away.

Cosette disliked “TBD. It’s like, two months away.”

Cosette (10:01am): boooooo 

Leo (10:03am): 💁‍♀️💁‍♀️💁‍♀️

With a shake of her head, Leo got up from her desk and shoved her phone into her back pocket, then made sure she had her badge clipped onto her belt loop.

It was a quick walk to the room where all of the items ready to be tested were stored, all she had to do was sign in on the digital screen, select what she was checking out, and then it was brought out to her.

Luca, a gangly, younger hardware engineer that always wore a scowl, grumbled as he handed her the carrying case. “Barnes better like this version.”

Leo just rolled her eyes, but thanked him anyway. Luca only ever lightened up when he was explaining something that he worked on, otherwise he looked like he wanted to murder everyone.

“Man’s a perfectionist, what can you do?”

She bid Luca farewell and started on her journey to find Bucky. A quick request for his location from FRIDAY told her that he was in a conference room a few floors below hers, finishing up a briefing with Captain Rogers and Sam Wilson.

Her phone continued to buzz the entire time she walked, and she sighed, resigning herself to catching up with everyone later during her lunch.

“When’s that pretty tech girl gonna come through with your scope, Mister It’s not adjusting fast enough,” Sam teased as they stepped out of the conference room, and Bucky couldn’t help but roll his eyes. The faint smell of old coffee grounds and recirculated air lingered from their too-long meeting, and he was glad to be out of the stuffy room.

“You shouldn’t speak about Miss Hughes that way, Sam,” Steve chided, shaking his head with a gentle smile. “She’s not just some pretty girl, she has a title, you know.”

“So you’re saying she’s pretty, huh, Cap?” Sam’s grin was pure mischief, and Bucky watched as a faint flush crept up Steve’s neck. 

Interesting. Was Steve interested in Leo?

“C’mon, Barnes. Why can’t you admit that you’re into her? She’s the only one who’s been able to get a real smile out of you outside of Steve,” Sam continued to prod, and Bucky shook his head, trying not to think about Leo Hughes.

Because Leo Hughes was… something.

They’d been working together off and on for a little over six months, and he’d come to really like the girl. Not that he’d told her that. Not that he’d told anyone that, other than his therapist. Who was impressed that he’d managed to make a work friend that he wanted to be a friend.

Sam wasn’t exactly wrong about her being pretty. Bucky thought Leo Hughes was stunning, from her dark hair framed her face, to the sharp intelligence in her hazel eyes, to the way she carried herself with quiet confidence. He found himself looking forward to their meetings, to the way her lips quirked up when she explained something, or the gentle sound of her voice. 

She was shorter than he was, often having to stand on her tiptoes to help him make adjustments to a weapon when he was testing it, but she never seemed annoyed by that. She was lean and lithe, and usually dressed in trousers and button up shirts for work. He’d catch her around the compound on the weekend or after hours, spotting her in anything from sweatpants and a t-shirt to a dress fit for one of Tony’s stuffy parties.

Bucky shook his head. He couldn’t think about her like that. She was a coworker. A friend in the making.

He couldn’t think about how Leo Hughes was the prettiest dame he’d ever laid eyes on.

“You can’t objectify our coworkers, Sam,” Steve shook his head with a sigh, looking to Bucky for help. “It’s not right.”

“Lay off, Birdbrain. She’s a nice girl, show some respect,” Bucky didn’t look up from his boots, unable to meet Steve’s gaze.

“Heads up, coworker I did not objectify incoming,” Sam muttered, nodding toward the hallway as Leo approached.

Bucky’s breath caught for a second as he saw her in a pair of wide-leg black pants and an oversized blazer, the design of the t-shirt she had on underneath obscured. All he could focus on was the fact that her lips were that soft pink color he’d come to like on her. She looked… amazing.

“Sergeant Barnes, Captain Rogers… Sam,” Leo greeted with a polite smile, her voice smooth and professional, but there was that little warmth in it that always made Bucky’s chest tighten. “Nice to see you three. I’m gonna need to steal this one away, if that’s alright?”

She gestured to Bucky with her free hand, the other holding onto a familiar case that held his new scope. The scent of her floral perfume drifted toward him, and it was a welcome change from whatever after shave Sam was wearing.

Sam smirked, but kept quiet. 

“Of course. Go right ahead,” Steve, ever the gentleman, nodded. 

Bucky gave Leo a nod, his lips twitching into a small smile as he told Steve and Sam he’d see them later, then followed her down the hall. His heart was pounding, but he did his best to keep it hidden. He couldn’t help it. Every time they were alone, he felt something pulling him closer to her.

“Got the new scope for you,” Leo said as they walked, her voice echoing slightly in the empty hallway. “Luca says it should be better this time.”

“Good,” Bucky murmured. “Thanks for bringing it down.”

“No problem,” she smiled, glancing up at him briefly. “You know I like making sure you’re fully equipped for the job.”

The way she said it, casually, but with that underlying hint of something more, made Bucky’s pulse speed up. He couldn’t help but wonder if she felt the same way he did.

When they got to the shooting range, the space filled with the lingering scent of gunpowder, Bucky slipped into work mode, his eyes zeroing in on the case in Leo’s hand. His scope, hopefully perfected this time.

“Let’s see it,” he smiled in what he hoped was a playful manner, glad to see that he was successful.

“Here ya go,” Leo replied, her smile brightening as she lifted the case onto the counter. “Fresh off the workbench. Ready to give it another try?”

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her for just a second longer than necessary, memorizing the details of her face, the slope of her nose, the flecks of gold in her hazel eyes.

“Let’s see if it’s any better than last time,” he said, turning his focus away from her gorgeous features.

Bucky went to the weapons cache and scanned his right hand, entering the storage room where he quickly found and pulled his sniper rifle off of the rack. He returned to find Leo opening the case, a small smile on her lips as she handed him the scope.

He felt the usual comfort settle in between them as he attached the scope and she went over the adjustments with him. There was something easy about being around Leo, and it wasn’t just because of her professionalism or the fact that she was good at her job. She never treated him like the Winter Soldier, or a person with a heavy past. She just saw him as Bucky, the guy who was a little too picky about his equipment.

They worked through their usual routine, Leo explaining any changes, Bucky listening and following along, trying it himself. He went through the process of attaching and detaching it, seeing how quickly he could calibrate it. He noted that it adjusted to his vision faster than the previous version, and Leo had preened at the compliment.

He noticed that her phone was vibrating almost nonstop, the constant buzz wasn’t exactly throwing off his focus, but it wasn’t helping his concentration either.

“I hate to sound like an old man, but would you mind turning your phone off?” he asked, setting down the rifle so he could step back from the booth he’d been using to shoot from.

Bucky watched as Leo’s cheeks flushed, and her eyes quickly darted away from his.

“S-sorry, it’s probably a group chat,” she grumbled as she pulled out her phone and put it into do not disturb. “My friends and I all got an invitation to our friend’s wedding, and everyone’s losing their minds over it.”

“I’m guessing it’s a pretty big deal?” he asked, his head tilting with curiosity.

“Kinda. She’s one of my closest friends, and everyone in the friend group’s been talking about it non-stop since we got the save the date announcements. Trying to figure out who they’re gonna bring as their plus one. Weddings, you know how it is.”

He didn’t, not really. He didn’t think he’d ever been to a wedding.

“Why not just go solo? Save yourself the hassle of finding someone to go with,” he suggested as he moved back into position to take a few more test shots on some farther targets.

Leo laughed, the sound soft and genuine, a gentle melody to his ears.

“If only it were that simple. There’s a lot of pressure to bring someone, you know? The bride, Charlie, even texted me to reinforce the fact that she’s giving me one. And a lot of my friends are gonna show up with dates…”

Bucky frowned at that, then took a shot.

Just right of center. Damn.

“They’re giving you a hard time about it?”

“From what I’ve seen in the group text, just some mild teasing,” she shrugged in his peripheral. “It’s fine. I’ll figure it out. One of my friends is gonna put that she needs a date in her Bumble profile, see if she can find someone that way before April 15th.”

Bucky had heard of Bumble before, when Sam tried to sign him up for it one night at a bar near the compound, telling him that he needed to get laid. He didn’t like the experience whatsoever. The things he saw… the messages women sent him. He wished he didn’t have a photographic memory.

He drew in another breath and focused on the target, letting off another round. This time, it hit dead center, so he stepped back and put down the rifle again.

Hesitating for a split second, he decided to throw caution to the wind and go completely out of his comfort zone.

“I could go with you, if you want.” The words were out of his mouth before he could think better of it.

Her gaze locked onto his, eyes wide, lips parted, disbelief all over her face.

When he didn’t take it back, her jaw dropped, mouth opening a little wider.

“Wait, are you serious?”

Bucky shifted his weight to one foot, trying to play it cool. He was far from cool, his pulse was thundering his ears, his mouth was dry, and his palm was sweating.

“Why not? You need a date, right? I’m not doing anything.” He couldn’t think straight when she was looking at him like that.

Leo blinked, her expression a mix of surprise and something else he couldn’t quite place. For a second, she looked like she might refuse, but then her lips curled into a soft smile he recognized.

“You’d really go with me?” she asked, her voice a little quieter now.

Bucky nodded, a sudden surge of warmth filling his chest at the idea. “Yeah. I mean, unless you’ve already got someone else in mind. You’re not plannin’ to ask Steve, are ya?”

“Please,” Leo laughed with a shake of her head. “My friends are menaces. They’d eat Steve alive.”

“And you think I stand a chance?”

Something flickered between them for a moment, and Leo gave a shrug that was definitely meant to be more casual than it was.

“So what if I do?”

Bucky tried his best to ignore the excitement stirring inside him, but the thought of being with her at this wedding, being the guy on her arm, making her friends wonder what was going on between them, possibly getting closer to her, filled him with an unfamiliar sense of anticipation.

“Looks like you’ve got your plus one then,” he smiled.

Chapter Text

Leo had taken a few days to let the Bucky situation sink in before she decided to sneak a bomb into the group chat.

[gossip girls]

Leo (2:55pm): are you guys staying at the resort? Charlie blocked off rooms, but it’s boutique so no points 🥲

Eliza (3:02pm): yah, the closest hilton is SO FAR. i’d rather stay where the wedding is, but sacrifice is hard.

Roxy (3:06pm): won’t matter. char told me that she’s working it out with her parents but they’re prob gonna pay for our rooms, since we’re making a big trek out there.

Cosette (3:10pm): amazing, love patti and ron for that. ps. no hits on my bumble profile update. should i say that it’s in san diego?

Eliza (3:13pm): prob. Feel like that’s a big draw.

Cosette disliked “prob. Feel like that’s a big draw.”

Cosette (3:14pm): IM the big draw!

Leo (3:17pm): I may or may not have a date.

Roxy (3:17pm): GIRL. SPILL.

Cosette (3:17pm): WHY DIDNT U START WITH THAT??? burying the lede here, leonard. 

Leo (3:18pm): it’s top secret. You’ll find out when we get there 😛😌

Roxy disliked “it’s top secret. You’ll find out when we get there 😛😌”

Cosette disliked “it’s top secret. You’ll find out when we get there 😛😌”

Eliza loved “it’s top secret. You’ll find out when we get there 😛😌”

A small smile played on her lips as she flipped the phone over, the glow fading out. Back to the prototypes. Clint’s arrows wouldn’t document themselves.

It had been a few days since Bucky had offered to go to San Diego with her, and she was still reeling from it. It felt like a weird dream she hadn’t fully woken up from. It replayed in her head– his quiet words, the small smiles they kept trading… She was just waiting for the universe to be like, “Nah, just kidding!” and rip him out of her life.

The office was its usual low-key chaos. A few of her teammates were huddled up, probably ripping apart another teammate’s work. Leo was trying to decipher the notes Clint had left on her most recent round of documentation, a headache threatening to form the longer she squinted. He really did have terrible handwriting.

And then, like she’d literally manifested him, Bucky Barnes walked onto her floor.

The whole place just… froze. Conversations stopped mid-sentence. Someone gasped, a quiet, inhaled “what the fuck.” You didn’t see an Avenger down here unless something had gone spectacularly wrong.

Bucky was just inside the doorway, looking like he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to be there. He was still in his tac gear, hair a mess, and his five o’clock shadow was darker than usual. The rifle scope he’d taken out with him was in his hand.

He’d just spent four days in Bolivia with Captain Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. Shouldn’t he be in debriefing?

Taryn, who was practically sitting at Leo’s desk, jabbed her in the ribs. “Um, hello? Barnes is here,” she hissed like she was witnessing a celestial event.

Leo rolled her eyes without looking up. “Yeah, no kidding,” she muttered, trying to look like she was absorbed in her screen.

“What did you do? Why would he be here?” Taryn was practically vibrating with curiosity.

“Gave him that upgraded scope before he left,” Leo said, clicking through slides like it was no big deal. Her heart, however, was busy hammering in her chest.

It was a big deal, but nobody needed to know that.

Then Bucky’s eyes landed on Leo, and he just beelined straight over to her. He looked like he was on a mission, his strides too fast to be casual.

Leo forced herself to stay put as he stopped right at her desk.

“Hey, Leo. Got a sec?” His voice was quiet, almost hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to be in their lowly tech department.

She could feel the collective gaze on them, the weight of everyone’s curiosity pressing down on her.

Nodding at the scope in his hand, she raised her eyebrows in a “well?” kind of way. “Something blow up?”

“Nah. Worked like a charm,” he said, tipping it towards her with a small, genuine smile. “Perfect, actually. Just wanted to, you know, give feedback. In person.”

Leo squinted a little. Since when did Bucky do anything in person that could be an email? Usually, you had to send him like, five follow-ups just to get a one-word reply.

“Right. Feedback.” She wasn’t buying it.

The corner of his mouth did that little twitchy thing it does right before he smiles. Not that she noticed that he did that sort of thing. He glanced over his shoulder, clocking their captive audience.

“Let’s go to a conference room,” she suggested, her skin crawling from the spotlight. He must’ve felt it too, because he nodded and followed her without another word.

The second the door shut and the glass walls frosted over for privacy, Leo turned to him. “Seriously? You could’ve just messaged me, you know. We have a process for this.”

“Not as personal.” His voice was casual, but there was something else there, a little undercurrent she couldn’t quite place. He held the scope out to her, their fingers touched when she took it.

Her breath caught, just for a second.

He didn’t let go right away, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand.

“You got a personal line?” he asked, voice smoother than she’d ever heard it before. “Cell phone?”

Leo blinked, thrown off. “Uh, yeah?”

“I want another one,” he said, nodding at the scope. “For backup. Figure we’ll need to, uh, test it. Make adjustments. Would be easier to… coordinate that, and for the trip, if I had your number.”

“Right. Backup, testing,” she echoed, holding out her hand for his phone. "Coordinating.”

The device was warm in her fingers as she quickly typed her contact info in and handed it back. Before she could even process the moment, her phone vibrated in her pocket, and her watch buzzed on her wrist.

She glanced down.

It’s Bucky

Just that. Two words. 

Her stomach flipped.

He was watching her, that unreadable look still there, like he was waiting for a reaction.

She honestly didn’t know what to say. The tension between them was thick enough to spread on toast, but she had zero clue what to do with it.

Then he smirked, breaking the moment. “Gotta get to debriefing. But I’ll text you later.”

Leo just nodded, her brain short-circuiting. “Oh. Uh. Okay, yeah. Later.”

And just like that, he was gone.

What the fuck was that?

By the time she got back to her desk, Taryn was practically bouncing.

“So?!”

Leo dropped into her chair, spinning around to face her. “So… he liked the scope?”

"‘Feedback’ my butt! That’s what we’re calling it now?”

“He said it worked great. And he needs a backup,” Leo said, trying to use her most this is totally normal voice.

Taryn snorted so loud a few heads turned. “Right. Because Clint definitely comes down here in full tactical gear just to ask for more arrows.” She leaned back, all smug. “You’re the only one he works with on this stuff, Leo. That’s gotta mean something.”

Leo chewed on her lip, her heart still racing. She shook her head, trying to play it cool. “Nah. It’s not that big of a deal.”

Yeah, nothing like potential flirtation with a super soldier. Leo tried to focus on her work, she really did. But her eyes kept drifting back towards her phone, like it was gonna light up at any second with a text from him.

“Seriously though,” Taryn tried again. “He could’ve sent an email.”

Leo kept her face as blank as humanly possible, channeling her inner robot. “He’s just… polite? Old fashioned? You know.” And I’m lying through my teeth. But no way she was telling Taryn she thought Bucky Barnes might actually like her. She wasn’t even sure she believed it.

“Barnes? Polite?” Taryn scoffed. “Sure. And I’m dating Thor.”

Leo snorted, but kept her eyes glued to her screen. She could feel herself blushing, which was just fantastic. The last thing she needed was the office gossip mill churning out theories before she even knew what was going on.

Her phone buzzed suddenly against the desk, making her jump. Leo’s hand shot out, snatching it up way too fast.

Ugh. Just a stupid calendar reminder about an engineering meeting she was already dreading.

Of course, Taryn caught the frantic grab. 

“You’re totally waiting for him to text you,” she whispered, her eyes wide with realization.

Leo’s jaw tightened. “I’m not.” Another lie.

“You so are!” Taryn grinned, leaning closer, like they were sharing the world’s biggest secret. “I knew it. You’re totally into him. I mean, who isn’t into Sergeant Tall, Dark, and Broody? Half the women here would give a kidney for an ounce of his attention.”

“I am not into Bucky Barnes,” Leo said firmly, though she wasn’t entirely sure who she was trying to convince anymore. “This whole thing is totally normal.”

Taryn just gave her this knowing look. 

“Well, he’s into you. I mean, come on! He looked like he’d just survived the apocalypse, and your desk was his safe haven.”

Leo felt that familiar heat creeping up the back of her neck again. She had a point, and Leo hated it.

Before she could even think of a witty comeback, her phone buzzed again.

This time, it was from him.

Bucky (2:10pm): I meant it. Scope’s perfect. Thanks for your help with it.

Leo stared at the screen for way longer than necessary, a little smile starting to twitch at her lips.

“Totally normal,” Taryn mouthed, rolling her eyes but grinning.

Leo rolled her own eyes back but couldn’t help the stupid grin spreading across her face.

“Completely normal,” she muttered, tucking her phone away so she could get back to work.

The instant the elevator doors slid shut, Bucky leaned back against the cold metal wall, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. It felt like he’d been holding his breath the entire time. 

He was an actual idiot.

"Feedback? " The word echoed in his head, stupid and hollow. What had possessed him to say that? Who had he been in that moment, because it definitely wasn’t him.

He ran his vibranium hand down his face, the metal cool against his suddenly overheated skin. He could face down a platoon of armed mercenaries without a second thought, stay calm under pressure with chaos around him. All it took was one curious tilt of Leo’s head, one questioning glance from those damn hazel eyes, and his brain turned to static. Fried in a good way, for once in his life.

He hadn’t even consciously decided to go to her floor after he got off the Quinjet. His feet had simply… carried him. Now, stepping off the elevator, he was all too aware of the way his presence had made everyone freeze. But then he saw Leo, a beacon amidst the wary stares, and his stomach had clenched.

She looked… good. Too good for him to have shown up unannounced and still covered in dirt and grime from the mission. He was supposed to drop the scope off after debriefing, and send her and engineering an email later with anything he noticed about it in the field. But somehow, his feet took him straight to her desk.

You got a personal line?

Bucky could’ve thrown himself off the roof. What was that? Could he have made it any more obvious?

By the time the elevator reached its destination, he had half a mind to text her and clarify. To say something that didn’t make him sound like he was looking for an excuse to talk to her. But he hesitated, staring down at the message thread.

He sent her a quick text in hopes of redeeming himself for how he’d acted, thanking her again, and then tucked his phone away as he stepped out onto the floor full of conference rooms.

It wasn’t like he expected her to respond immediately. She was busy. Hell, he’d basically barged into her workday, in front of all her coworkers.

Stupid.

By the time he made it to the debriefing room, Sam was already there, feet kicked up on the table as he flipped through what was probably Steve’s report. Sam glanced up as Bucky dropped into the chair next to him, arms crossed.

“You look like someone stole your lunch,” Sam said, raising a brow. “Rough mission? Wasn’t it just some recon?”

Bucky huffed. “No. Recon was fine.”

Sam narrowed his eyes, not giving up, apparently. “Then what’s with the face?”

Bucky didn’t answer.

He wasn’t about to tell Sam that the face was because he’d tripped over his own words like an idiot in front of Leo.

“Barnes,” Sam started, lowering the report and leaning toward him, a serious look on his face. “Did you actually screw up, or are you just being weird?”

Bucky shot him a glare, but Sam only smirked.

Before he could formulate a response, his phone vibrated in his jacket pocket.

Leo (2:22pm): Let me know if you want to discuss any other feedback in the future 😉

He blinked at the message, reading it twice.

Then, despite himself, a slow grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Maybe he wasn’t such an idiot after all.

Chapter Text

For the rest of the week, Leo couldn’t stop thinking about the way Bucky had shown up at her desk and asked for her number, because instead of just exchanging numbers and never hearing from him, he was actually texting her. Regularly.

They’d been texting what felt like nonstop. Quick messages throughout the day, jokes at odd hours, check-ins after long meetings or training sessions. He’d started sending her memes.

She never thought she'd be the kind of person who liked texting a guy all the time. Normally, it felt like a chore and she avoided it like the plague. But with Bucky, it didn't feel like a performance. It was almost too easy, if Leo was being honest with herself.

He hadn’t shown up on her floor again, but that didn’t stop Taryn from prying every chance she got. Leo had spent more time dodging questions than doing actual work throughout the week.

Her phone buzzed against her desk and caught her attention, pulling her eyes away from her computer.

Bucky (10:31am): Know you have a busy day, but wanted to check in. You still alive? Want to grab coffee after work?

She couldn’t help but smile to herself, already typing a reply.

Leo (10:32am): barely. it’s a struggle. but yes, please. 5:15 at the cafe?

Bucky (10:33am): Sounds good. See you then.

He sent a photo of the hang in there cat, and she shook her head. She really needed to teach him how to use gifs.

She tucked her phone into her blazer pocket, feeling a little lighter now that she had plans with Bucky. Even though they’d been texting, she hadn’t seen him since they exchanged numbers.

Pushing her thoughts about Bucky to the side, she stood from her desk and locked her computer, heading off to sign out the tasers she was supposed to test with Natasha.

Bucky was in the café at 4:55, wanting to stake out a table in case it was busy. He’d never really been there except to grab a coffee to go, but he’d seen it around the end of the day, and knew it could get crowded. Normally he wouldn’t even consider sticking around somewhere so busy, but this was important. He could compartmentalize his anxiety for this.

He’d grabbed a black coffee and sat at a table in the back, making sure he could see everyone and everything in the café, and he waited.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out, not surprised to see Steve had texted him. He’d dodged him earlier in order to avoid any questions about his evening plans.

Steve (5:02pm): Hey Buck. Meant to ask earlier, but want to grab dinner soon? I hear there’s lasagna in the canteen.

Bucky shook his head with a huff of laughter. Of course Steve still called the food hall a canteen.

Bucky (5:04pm): Busy, sorry.

Steve (5:05pm): Your loss!

He shoved his phone back into his pocket and went back to watching for Leo, his anxiety rising as he watched the crowd of people coming in and out of the café.

At 5:12, he watched her enter through the glass doors, her hair flowing behind her as she walked inside quickly, her eyes scanning for him. He saw as she spotted him, and then went to get herself a drink.

Should’ve gotten her something, he thought to himself, determined to figure out what her drink of choice was for next time.

Next time? He needed to slow down before he got too far ahead of himself.

When she got to the table, a clear cup with something alarmingly green in her hand, he quickly stood and pulled out her chair for her, earning a soft thanks. Once she was seated, he sat back down and gave her a small smile, feeling shy all of a sudden.

“Thanks for coming.” The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could even think of anything better to say.

Leo nodded, taking a sip of her drink. “Thanks for inviting me. I don’t think we’ve ever.. hung out outside of work before.”

“We haven’t but I think now’s the time to change that. I should probably find out about what I’m getting myself into with you and your friends,” he tried not to sound nervous, to act casual, but wasn’t sure how he was coming across. Why was it so much easier to text her?

“Doing your research, hm? Sounds good to me,” she nodded with a smile, and he saw a pink lipstick stain wrapped around her straw. “Ask away, Sergeant Barnes.”

“You know I don’t like all of that rank stuff, I only pull it on Sam when he’s being annoying,” he reached for his dog tags subconsciously, feeling their outline beneath his henley. “How do you know Charlie and all of these girls?” 

Leo lit up like a Christmas tree, her eyes wide and smile bright, and Bucky was more than happy to divert the attention off of himself. 

“We went to UC San Diego together, then we all got jobs that brought us out to Manhattan. We lived together or near each other for a few years before everyone kinda started becoming real people, you know? We traveled, partied, and did a lot of growing up together,” she smiled wistfully, tiny lines forming at the corners of her eyes. “They were so mad when I moved to the compound. Every time I’m back in the city I’m hit with ‘when are you moving back?’ I know they don’t mean for it to make me feel bad… but it does.”

She looked like she wanted to say more, a sadness washing over her for a second before it disappeared, hidden behind walls he watched her building up in real time. He didn’t want to interrogate her, so he decided to change topics.

“Give me the rundown on all of them. Anything I should watch out for?” 

He didn’t want her to think he was treating it like a mission, but he wanted to know more about her friends and her relationships with these women. Luckily, she didn’t seem to take it that way, and launched into each one in her core group.

“Charlie is… a demon,” Leo laughed, and Bucky raised an eyebrow, confused. “She’s a big instigator. Always getting another round of shots, always wanting to go to just one more bar, or to stay out a little later. But she’s a huge sweetheart. Devious when she wants to be, but Eric levels her out. He’s super nice, gets along with everyone, but kinda bland? He’s perfect for her. They’ve been together forever, since like.. sophomore year of college.”

She explained that Cosette was all over the place, her job taking her on travels across the world. She worked for an art collector, and she was at galleries everywhere, and always sent postcards. Her chaotic work life matched her chaotic personality though, so it was a good fit.

Eliza was more pragmatic, worked at a non-profit, and led a pretty low key life now that they were out of their more immature days. But she still loved to have a wild time every once in a while. She was who Leo went to for life advice, and when she needed to talk out something serious, like when she had decided she was going to move to the compound. Eliza was supportive, thoughtful, and made a mean Jell-O shot.

“Roxy is married and living her best life, it’s so gross,” Leo laughed, shaking the ice in her cup a little as she spoke, “She and her husband, Dylan, bought a house recently and are doing the renovations themselves. It’s like HGTV with all of the videos she sends, it’s insane. She loves a good time, but isn’t as crazy now that she’s settling in. She’s usually the one making everybody drink water.”

Bucky nodded and had asked questions here and there, especially for an explanation of what Jell-O shots were. Leo promised to make him some, even though he wouldn’t feel the effects of the alcohol, because everyone needed to experience it, she’d said with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

“In terms of anything to watch out for… I’d say that they’re all insanely nosy. They’ll try to prod for things, but they’ll respect boundaries if you set them. They’re probably gonna try to get you drunk. I’ve heard it’s an open bar, so you’ll probably have a steady flow of drinks coming your way.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. He couldn’t remember the last time he was drunk… Oh, there was that one time at one of Stark’s ridiculous afterparties that Steve had dragged him to…

“I don’t think anything other than Thor’s weird space meade can get me drunk, but they can sure try.”

“Don’t tell them that, they’ll take it as a personal challenge,” she warned him with a smile, and he could tell she was being serious.

Those were the main girls in her closest circle, but she said there would be more people she was friends with there.

“We have a big network of friends, but we all vary in closeness, I guess you could say? Some people I’d only really see at big social gatherings, but they were closer with someone else in the group,” she shrugged. “There was always something to do with different groups. It was a lot of fun.”

“That must be nice to have,” he mused. “I didn’t have anything like that growin’ up. It was really just me and Steve. We had the Howling Commandos during the war, but I dunno. Sounds like you have a good thing goin’ on.”

Leo nodded, “I’m super lucky. And hey, if you play your cards right, maybe you’ll have a new group of friends by the end of it all.”

Something about that made Bucky feel… excited? Hopeful? He liked the idea of getting to know Leo’s friends, of them inviting him into their close knit group as an actual member, not as someone just passing through.

As they talked, Bucky didn’t even realize that he’d tuned out the sounds of the baristas making drinks and people chatting around them. The things he normally couldn’t ignore had all dimmed by the lilt of her voice, the flick of her wrist as she waved her cup, the pink smudge on that damn straw.

Their conversation shifted, and they talked about their days. What should have been something mundane and boring in Bucky’s mind ended up being fun? He ran through what he’d done, which wasn’t too exciting. A few meetings, a demonstration with Steve for the agents in training, and a boring briefing on some project Tony was working on.

He couldn’t help but appreciate how engaged Leo was, asking questions about the demonstration and Tony’s project. Not that he could answer anything about the latter, he’d zoned out almost immediately after Stark started talking.

Leo’s day sounded far more exciting than his. She had a few demonstrations to go over with the engineering team, and tested new tasers with Natasha.

“Natasha is… incredible. Normally, she likes to test things on her own after I give her the rundown, but today… She asked if I wanted to watch her test them out on some of the agents,” she told him, her eyes full of mirth. “I didn’t realize that they have to be tased during their training?”

“Yeah,” Bucky answered, scratching the back of his neck with his right hand. “It’s so they’ll know what to expect if it happens in the field.”

“Well, it was wild to see in person. She knocked a couple of guys down a few pegs. Cocky idiots didn’t think it was gonna be that bad,” she rolled her eyes with an annoyed huff. “I’m just glad I don’t have to work with them.”

“I’m sure it’s bad enough having to deal with the riff raff of the Avengers,” he laughed, and then he heard a rumble from across the table. He looked to see Leo giving him a sheepish smile and she shrugged.

“Sorry, it’s just about dinner time… I had an early lunch,” she admitted.

Bucky thought for a split second before he asked, “Wanna go to the food hall? I hear there’s lasagna tonight.”

“Lasagna sounds great.”

When Leo was back in her apartment later that night, she had to have a debrief with herself. Dinner with Bucky had been… good. Their conversation from the café had continued over their meal, and by the time they’d finished eating, she realized she didn’t want it to end.

It went so much better than his visit to her department. He had already been there when she walked into the café, tucked away in the back like a shadow, eyes flicking from faces to the doors until he spotted her. Somehow, even across the room, her heart had skipped a beat. He’d been early. He’d been waiting for her.

He seemed a little nervous, but way less than the last time she’d seen him. More like he did when they worked together during testing. It was nice to see him more at ease. She’d started to let down some of her walls, opening up to him a bit more, and it felt good.

They’d run into Steve at dinner, who had shot Bucky a confused look, but was pleasant towards Leo and asked how she was doing. She hadn’t gotten to work with him in a while, so it was nice to catch up a little bit as they went through the line to grab their food. Steve’s glance between them was all she needed to know that this was unusual. He’d seemed surprised to find them grabbing dinner, and tried to sit with them, but Bucky was quick to shoo him away.

Bucky had insisted on walking her back across the compound to her apartment, asking how long she’d been there and how often she got to see her friends. He asked if she ever regretted making the move. She should’ve seen that one coming after she told him that her friends were always asking when she was gonna move back earlier.

But surprisingly, she opened up and told him that she felt homesick for the city and her friends on a regular basis. She missed how there was always something to do. The quiet of the compound unsettled her sometimes.

She’d never told anyone that. She had been more honest with him than she’d been with anyone in a long time, which was weird to admit, even to herself.

Leo thought back to every date she’d been on in the last few years, and she couldn’t remember being this open with a man once. While she got ready for bed, she tried to figure out why she was feeling like this. Why wasn't she as guarded as she usually is? It wasn’t like her. She couldn’t remember the last time she wanted to keep talking after dinner was over. Or the last time a man actually asked her a question and waited for the answer.

She chalked it up to Bucky. He was probably one of the most genuine people she’d ever met, and something about him just made her feel like it was okay to be herself and to share things with him. The last guy she’d gone out with a month and a half ago talked about himself and his job in finance the whole time.

After filling up her water bottle, Leo climbed into her bed and turned on the TV, turning on one of her mindless cooking competition shows so she could zone out and try not to think about the handsome, sweet man she’d had dinner with.

She plugged in her phone, spotting a notification when the screen lit up.

Bucky (10:42pm): Really liked spending time with you tonight. Let’s do it more often.

Leo couldn’t help but smile. It was looking like she wasn’t gonna be getting him off her mind anytime soon.

Chapter Text

Everywhere Leo went, she noticed the way people looked at her, curiosity and a little bit of judgement in their gazes. Like they were trying to figure her out. Trying to figure out why Bucky Barnes, an Avenger, an actual living legend, was seeking her out and spending time with her.

It was crazy how fast the gossip mill worked here.

She could feel it when she walked the hallways, their eyes flicking away from her whenever she looked in their direction. She caught snippets of hushed conversations that stopped the moment she was in earshot. Even the usual quiet of her floor felt tense when she was there, her coworkers suddenly very interested in the smallest details of her schedule, and when she’d be working with Bucky next. She was starting to feel like she was in a zoo.

She’d overheard a few people while she was in the restroom, trapped in a stall between two women who had decided it was totally fine to continue their conversation at full volume.

“I don’t know why he’s hanging around some boring desk jockey when there are so many agents throwing themselves at him every day,” the one on the left called out, her voice echoing off of the tiles.

Leo froze, her hand hovering over the toilet paper dispenser. She didn’t recognize the voice as someone she knew, thankfully. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

“Please, you’re just mad he hasn’t asked you out. I didn’t think he’d be into a corporate girl, though. He’s probably just messing around with her. Probably threw herself at him the second he gave her an ounce of attention.”

“I figured he’d have a thing with Romanoff. Like attracts like, y’know?”

Leo’s stomach twisted. Good thing she was already in the bathroom– she felt like she was gonna throw up.

“Did you hear Kelsey saw them at the café the other day? Said it gave off first date vibes. Maybe it’ll fizzle.”

“One can only hope. I’d hate to have to admit I’m actually jealous of Leo Hughes. Barnes is too hot to be tied down by someone like her.”

She had to get out of here. Was that really what people thought? Not that Leo thought he was interested in her like that. He was doing her a favor by going to Charlie’s wedding, and he wanted to know what he was getting into when he got there. This was probably just like a mission to him, gathering intel, making sure everything went smoothly. There was nothing first date about their coffee the other day.

That’s all it is, she told herself as she slipped out of the stall and quickly washed her hands, not even glancing at the other women as she left.

But as she walked back to her desk from lunch, those words stuck with her.

Boring desk jockey.

She glanced down at her outfit, simple, wide-legged black slacks, sneakers, and an old Stark Industries shirt that was messily French tucked. Maybe she didn’t look like the sleek, dangerous agents that worked a floor above her, but why did that matter? And who even were those women in the bathroom? Who were they to say anything about her?

By the time she reached her workspace, Leo had decided to just ignore the whole thing. Who cared what anyone thought?

Maybe they had a point, though.

She went on with her day, then with her week, pretending everything was fine. She showed up to work, responded to Bucky’s texts casually, a few times a day so it didn’t seem like she was overeager or too available.

Everything was normal.

Everything was fine.

But every time her phone lit up with a message from him and she wanted to reply back immediately, she hesitated and put it off until later. Every time she considered stopping by to check in on how his scope was working, she changed her mind.

Leo wasn’t avoiding him. Not really. She just needed a little space to sort out the mess in her head, and hopefully get everyone’s focus off of her.

Bucky was pissed.

Not at Leo– never at her– but at the people who thought they had the right to say things about her. People who didn’t know a damn thing. He didn’t care about what they said about him, people were always talking about him.

Everyone seemed to forget he had enhanced hearing, otherwise they’d watch what they said whenever he was in the vicinity. But they were busy running their mouths about his interest in the girl in corporate. Rumors that they were sneaking around during work hours, hiding in supply closets or areas with restricted access. People said that they’d spotted them coming out of a conference room together, Bucky’s hair more disheveled than it had been going in.

He wanted to say something, to set everyone straight, but he didn’t want to make things worse. So he kept his mouth shut.

But apparently he wasn’t hiding his annoyance at the rumors and gossip as well as he thought, because a few days later, Steve caught up with him after a sparring session. He hadn’t been avoiding Steve, per say… But he wasn’t making himself available to him either.

Bucky had just finished a somewhat frustrating round against Sam and was wiping sweat from his face when Steve stepped onto the mat, arms crossed.

“We need to talk.”

Bucky let out a breath, already dreading whatever was coming. He tossed his towel onto the bench and shot a look at Sam, who quickly mentioned something about hitting the showers and vanished. The little shit was probably in on this ambush. Probably why he used Redwing in their match to distract him.

“This about Leo?”

Steve gave him a look. “You tell me.”

“If you’re gonna start in on me about how I’ve been dodging you, you can save it. I don’t need a lecture,” Bucky sighed, rolling out his shoulders.

“That’s not what I’m here for,” Steve said evenly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. “I just want to know what’s going on. You’ve been tense all week, and it’s not just the usual. This is different.”

Bucky clenched his jaw. He could try to avoid the question, but Steve wasn’t gonna let it go. Man was like a dog with a bone, so he might as well get it over with.

“People are talking,” he muttered.

Steve frowned. “About you and Leo?”

Bucky gave a sharp nod. “I overheard some of it, and it’s not great.”

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Steve continued to prod as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Is there something going on between the two of you?”

“Define something,” Bucky grumbled, and Steve’s eyes widened.

He wasn’t gonna be able to keep it from him– Steve could always tell when he was lying, and if he didn’t own up to it now, Steve would drag it out of him eventually. A long breath escaped his lungs, and he ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the ends a little. It was starting to grow out. Maybe he’d get a haircut soon.

“Uh… I’m going to Leo’s friend’s wedding with her in San Diego in April.”

He watched as Steve processed the words, his face blank for a few seconds before a huge, shit eating grin appeared. A smile he knew all too well.

“Buck! This is… this is huge. You’ve never–” Steve stopped himself and shook his head, trying to organize his thoughts. “I’m excited for you, pal. I could tell you were interested in her, so this is a big step for you.”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s not make it into a thing,” Bucky said with a wave of his right hand. “She was tellin’ me about it and sounded like she wanted someone to go with her, so I offered. It’s nothing you need to read into.”

Sure, he said that. But Steve was already reading into it as he spoke. There was no stopping him.

“You wouldn’t offer if you didn’t want to do it, Buck.” Steve’s tone was pointed, “I’m excited for you. Have fun, get to know her more. See where things go.”

“Gee, thanks for the go-ahead, Stevie,” he rolled his eyes. “Didn’t know I needed permission.”

He fought back a groan at himself. He was just giving Steve attitude to get the focus off of himself. He’d talked about this with his therapist recently. You don’t have to deflect like this, a familiar voice in his head reminded him.

“You don’t, and you know that. I just… I’m trying to be supportive here.”

Before Steve could say anything else, Tony strolled in, dressed in his usual t-shirt and expensive slacks, sipping a green smoothie like he had nowhere better to be. Didn’t he have a multi-billion dollar company to run or something? He was never in the training rooms.

“Ah, perfect. This is the Barnes Intervention, right?” Tony smirked. “I’m here for moral support.”

Bucky rolled his eyes. As if. “What the hell do you want, Stark?”

“Oh, don’t get all growly. I come bearing wisdom,” Tony said, waving a hand. “I hear you and Hughes are the current focus of the office gossip blog. They’re unsanctioned, by the way. Shocking that you’re upset about it though, really, considering your whole ‘I don’t care what people think’ attitude.”

Bucky narrowed his eyes. “They’re talking shit about Leo.”

“Yeah, and that’s the part that’s pissing you off, isn’t it?” Tony raised a brow, challenging him.

Steve watched quietly, his expression unreadable. Bucky wished he’d step in and tell Stark to kick rocks.

“Look,” Tony continued, “you and I both know people are nosy. And sometimes, they’re idiots. But Hughes?” He pointed toward the door. “She’s smart. She’s capable. And unless I’ve completely misinterpreted the footage, which I’m pretty sure I’m not, she actually likes you, which is saying something.”

Bucky’s jaw tightened. “What’s your point?”

“My point, Tin Man, is that people will always talk. But if you let it get under your skin, you’re just feeding into it. Trust me, I’m somewhat of an expert on inter-office dalliances. You can’t let it get to you.”

He dragged a hand down his face, biting back a sigh. He hated when Tony made sense.

“You care about her.” Steve finally took the silence as his opportunity to speak up.

Bucky hesitated for half a second for nodding.

“That’s all that matters, then,” Steve smiled.

“Great, don’t say I never did anything for you,” Tony tapped his hand to the side of his cup, “Now that we’ve had our little heart-to-heart, I’m gonna finish my smoothie and go solve someone else’s problem. I hear Thor wants to get emails when he’s in space.”

He took a satisfied sip of his smoothie before heading for the door. Then, as if he’d just remembered something, he turned back.

“Oh, and Barnes?” Bucky looked over at him, tense, wondering what else he had to say.

“Don’t screw this up,” Tony said, his tone light but his expression serious. “Hughes is the best technical writer I’ve got, and I don’t need her jumping ship to some second-rate tech company because you get in your own head and do something stupid.”

“That why you’re giving me advice?” Bucky huffed. “To protect your investment?”

Tony smirked. “Partly. But also because you’re not terrible to be around when you’re less sad and broody.”

Bucky watched him leave before turning to Steve, who just shook his head and chuckled, “He’s not wrong.”

“I hate that,” Bucky groaned, and Steve clapped him on the back.

“Come on, let’s go get a smoothie. Tony’s looked pretty good. I’ll make sure they put extra kale in yours.”

Leo sat at her desk, pretending to focus on the schematics for some prototype the engineering team had been working on for Sam. She’d been staring at the same image for at least five minutes and hadn’t written a single thing about it.

Her phone buzzed, and she had never been more grateful for an interruption.

Bucky (3:16pm): Hey, you free tonight?

Leo (3:17pm): For what?

Bucky (3:17pm): Dinner.

She stared at the screen, her heart doing that stupid fluttering thing it had started doing every time his name popped up.

Dinner?

Was this normal dinner, or did he mean something else?

Before she could spiral too far out of control, her phone lit up again.

Bucky (3:20pm): You gotta eat, right?

She let out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. Okay. Just dinner. She could do that.

Leo (3:21pm): Fine. But if you take me to the food hall again, I’m gonna have to reconsider this whole wedding thing.

There was a pause, and she wondered if she’d taken it too far, but then his reply came in.

Bucky (3:23pm): Can’t have that happening. See you when you’re off.

She let out the breath she had been holding in, trying to process what had happened. She put her phone back down and returned to her work, forcing herself to focus so she wouldn’t start over thinking everything.

When the clock hit 5 she packed up her things and headed to the exit, brushing off Taryn’s question about happy hour drinks, saying that she already had plans, promising they’d rain check.

As she rounded the corner out of the elevator into the main lobby, she nearly collided with someone.

“Oh! I’m sorry–” she apologized immediately, her eyes widening when she saw that she had nearly mowed down Bucky.

“Hey,” he said, stepping back just enough to let her breathe. “I was just coming to find you.”

Leo arched a brow. “You don’t have to escort me from my office, you know.”

“Wanted to,” Bucky shrugged. “But now that I think about it, I'm not sure if it was the best idea, since everyone’s talking.”

“Yeah, kinda hard to ignore it,” she sighed, just now realizing that whatever was being said would most likely get back to him too. It was one thing to know she was being talked about, but it was another thing for him to know how underwhelming people thought she was.

Bucky’s grin widened, but he didn’t tease her. Instead, he placed his hand at the small of her back. “Forget them. You ready to go?”

He insisted on driving, apparently he already had a set of keys to a gorgeous Audi in his pocket when they ran into each other. They ended up at a small Thai place not far from the compound, away from the curious stares and gossip.

They must’ve known Bucky, because the woman behind the host stand lit up when she saw him, waving him on and saying that his usual table was available.

Bucky could only smile sheepishly, then he led the way to a table tucked away at the back of the restaurant. He started looking over the menu, but Leo already knew what she was going to order. There were only so many places within a somewhat short drive of the compound, or places that would deliver, so she ordered from this place a lot. She was surprised that he was looking through the pages, considering he was a regular too.

They debated on appetizers, Leo wanting to stick to more classic food like spring rolls and lettuce wraps, while Bucky wanted to branch out. He told her that he was trying to venture out a little when it came to food to varying successes.

“Food wasn’t nearly as… interesting back when I was growing up,” he said in between reading out some appetizer names. “You’d be lucky to get a fresh loaf of bread. Can we get something with crispy tofu? I didn’t like it when I tried it and it was soft. Too mushy… reminded me of– uh… I didn’t like it.”

Leo could tell where he was going before he trailed off, and her heart ached for him. She couldn’t even imagine… Sure, she didn’t have the most refined palette, but going from very few options to a seemingly endless amount of choices would be daunting. She’d probably just stick to what she knew she liked, in all honesty.

“Yeah, we can get whatever you want,” she nodded to the menu, giving him free reign. “No shared fish stuff, though. One time we ordered something and it came with an entire fried fish. Full eye contact. It was jarring to say the least, so I don’t order seafood anymore.”

Bucky promised he wouldn’t pick any seafood, then ordered for the both of them when their waitress came back. Once that was taken care of, they settled into an easy rhythm. They talked about her projects, his latest mission, and stories from the compound. Apparently Wanda and Sam were in some sort of prank war, and obviously he was on Wanda’s side.

It felt natural, sitting there and talking with him so openly, and Leo felt herself settling into that feeling as she picked at her pad see ew.

At one point, as Bucky reached across the table to grab the check, she had gone for it too, and their fingers brushed again. She glanced at him, but if he noticed, he didn’t show it.

“So… this wedding,” Bucky said, leaning back in his chair with the check, stuffing cash into the little black book and keeping it out of her reach. “What’s the dress code?”

Leo couldn’t help but chuckle at the man across from her, and she took a sip of her Thai iced tea before answering. “Don’t worry, it’s not black tie. Whatever you have should probably be fine.”

His eyes flicked to hers, sharp and unreadable for just a second before softening.

“I dunno, might be nice to show up matching.”

Her brain froze. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Bucky smirked, clearly pleased with himself. “What do you say? Wanna coordinate?”

She could see it, wearing a dress that matched his tie and complemented his suit. Her friends would never let her live it down, but she couldn’t help the warmth that spread through her at the idea.

“Yeah… Let’s do that. I haven’t found a dress yet, so it’ll be fun. We could go into the city, if you’re game?” she finally answered, and she saw his eyes light up, a bright smile taking over his entire face.

Leo would do anything to see that look again.

“How’s this weekend look for you?”

Leo couldn’t deal.

After dinner, Bucky drove them back to the compound and dropped her off at her building. He, like the rest of the Avengers, lived in a different housing unit. One that required a much higher clearance than she’d ever have.

They said goodnight, and Bucky stayed outside the building until she was through the front doors and inside the elevator. As the doors closed, she fought the urge to look back, clinging to the memory of his smile instead.

Once she was in her apartment, she changed into pajamas and washed her face, then settled onto her couch and scrolled through her contacts.

She had to talk to someone about this. But who?

Not any of the girls she’d see at the wedding. She didn’t want to give away who she was bringing.

Maybe one of her friends that she used to work with at Avengers Tower? They’d understand the dynamic that was going on. Or maybe her sister, Jules…

Yeah. Leo needed to talk to her big sister.

She tapped her sister’s contact and hit call before she could second guess herself. It rang twice before Juliette picked up, her face popping up on the screen.

“Leo?” Juliette looked confused, her brow furrowed. “What’s up? Isn’t it late over there?”

Ugh. She had forgotten about the time difference. Juliette lived in Denver with her long time boyfriend and their dog. It was so disgustingly cute. Her Instagram posts made her sick, but she was so thrilled for them.

“Yeah, but I needed to talk to you. Got a minute?” Leo asked as she sank deeper into the couch, tugging her blanket over her legs.

“For you? Always.” Jules’ tone shifted to something lighter. “What’s going on? Work? Life? Boy trouble?”

“Sort of all three,” Leo huffed.

There was a pause, then Jules laughed. Eyes closed, head back, laughter.

“Now I have to hear this. Spill.”

Leo hesitated for a second, chewing her bottom lip. Her sister stared her down, familiar hazel eyes watching her, waiting for her to start talking.

“Okay, so… you know how Charlie’s wedding is coming up?”

“Mm-hmm…”

“I uh…” Leo paused, running a hand over her face. “I have a date.”

Jules gasped, mouth hanging open, smile forming on her face immediately. “Wait, what? You didn’t tell me this! Who?”

Leo groaned and she flopped sideways on the couch, leaning her phone up against the cushion.

“...Bucky Barnes.”

Silence.

She watched as Jules’ brain seemed to click into gear, the lightbulb going off in her brain in real time.

“Excuse me?”

Leo winced. “Yeah…”

“You’re taking an Avenger as your date? Are you kidding me? Is this real life?” Jules practically screeched. “Leo, what the hell? Why didn’t you tell me you were dating!”

“It’s not like that,” Leo told her, quickly trying to extinguish any thought that they had something going on, but even to her own ears it sounded weak. “It’s just… I mentioned that I didn’t have a plus one and he offered. As a friend. Well… that wasn’t explicitly stated, but it was implied. We’re friends? Coworkers, really.”

Jules’ laugh was incredulous, and Leo fought back a groan.

“You haven’t dated since moving up to that compound and now you’re suddenly going to a wedding with Sergeant Broody himself?”

Leo snorted despite herself. “First of all, he’s not that broody. And second–”

“Oh no. You’re already defending him!” Jules’ teasing tone was relentless. “Leo. This is huge. How did this even happen?”

Leo turned to look up at the ceiling, her mind circling back to Bucky’s easy smile over dinner, the brush of his fingers, the way he waited until she was safely inside before leaving.

“You know I signed an NDA for work… But, we’ve been working together more recently, that’s all I can say about it.”

Jules was quiet for a moment, letting it sink in.

“So, what’s the problem? You like him, don’t you?”

Leo wanted nothing more to deny, deny, deny. She even opened her mouth to say no.

“I don’t know,” she finally admitted. “He’s… he’s nice. And funny in this subtle, dry way. And yeah, maybe I do like him. But it’s not like he’s into me like that.”

Jules hummed thoughtfully. “You sure about that?”

Leo frowned.

“Yes?”

“Leo,” Jules said patiently. “Men don’t just offer to go to weddings as friends. Especially not guys like Bucky Barnes, that are notoriously antisocial. Trust me, if he wasn’t interested, he wouldn’t be making this much of an effort.”

Leo shifted, pulling the blanket tighter around her, letting the words sink in. “I just… I don’t know, Jules. It feels too easy. Like it’s too good to be true.”

She watched her sister frown, then rub her face with her free hand.

“Cole really did a number on you, huh?”

Leo’s stomach twisted at the mention of her ex.

Cole had been the last guy she dated in New York City, and they broke up three months before she moved up to the compound.

They’d been together for almost two years, and had been in the process of apartment hunting for their first place together. He made it seem like he was totally in love with her, that everything was perfect, that he was going to propose. But then one day, he was suddenly confused and needed space, and the next thing she knew, he was hooking up with his coworker.

Leo didn’t even need to say anything, she just nodded and Jules understood.

“I know, I know,” Jules said gently. “But Bucky’s not Cole. I don’t even know if men were like that in the ‘30s.”

“I thought Cole wasn’t like that either,” Leo let out a breath. “I don’t want to go through that again. I can’t. And we work together… What if–”

“Leo, you never took Cole to a friend’s wedding. You never even brought him home for the holidays. Clearly you trust this guy enough to introduce him to your friends at a big event. And if Bucky’s making an effort, maybe it’s worth giving him a chance.”

Leo was quiet, her thumb tracing the edge of her phone case, wishing her sister was there. She wanted to believe that she was right, but she wasn’t quite ready to let her guard down completely.

“Maybe,” she said, softer this time. Like she was really considering it.

“Well, if nothing else, you’re gonna look amazing, and I can’t wait to see the photos,” Jules' smile made her smile too. “And hey, if this wedding ends with you two making out by the cake, I fully expect a play by play. I’m sure the girls will be more than willing to do that for me. They’ll probably send videos.”

Leo groaned, burying her face into her blanket. “You’re impossible!”

“I’m just saying!” Jules laughed. “Enjoy it, Leo. You deserve to make out with literally one of the hottest men on Earth… In the galaxy? I mean, I’ve seen pictures of Thor and he’s pretty…”

“Gonna stop you while you’re ahead, but thanks, Jules,” Leo said, smiling despite herself.

They caught up for a little bit longer since it had been a while since they’d last talked.

Jules was busy in Denver working at an aeronautics company, and her longtime boyfriend, Dale, was a pilot. It was nice to see her settling down into herself after being such a wild child in her 20s. Things were good for Jules, and that made Leo so incredibly happy.

When Leo couldn’t stop yawning, Jules told her that it was time to go to bed, and they said their goodnights and promised to talk soon before hanging up.

Tossing her phone aside, Leo couldn’t help but feel a little lighter.

Maybe she should just let herself enjoy this instead of getting all in her head about it.

What was the worst that could happen?

Chapter Text

“Hey, what does g t f o mean? Is that like… a new word?” Bucky asked Steve as they leisurely jogged around the compound, lapping Sam for like the fifth time.

“I actually don’t know,” Steve shook his head, looking over his shoulder and calling back to Sam, “What does G T F O mean?”

Sam burst out laughing, rolling forward onto the grass, unable to contain himself.

Bucky shot Steve a confused look, then they doubled back to stand over their fallen friend.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, looking between Sam and Steve, who was just as lost as he was.

Sam wiped a tear from his eye, still lying on the ground, completely useless.

“Wow.. you’re really showing your age, guys,” he wheezed between laughs.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Bucky grumbled, nudging Sam’s leg lightly with the toe of his sneaker. “What does it mean?” Sam finally sat up, catching his breath. “It means get the fuck out, Barnes.”

Bucky’s brow furrowed. “Get the… wait, why is she telling me to get out?”

“She's joking. It’s not literal. People say it when you’re surprised or think something’s wild,” Sam laughed, shaking his head.

Bucky frowned, fishing his phone out of his pocket and scrolling through their texts. He found the message in question, sent after he’d told Leo he finally logged into Netflix to watch a show she’d recommended.

Leo (6:22pm): gtfo! you figured it out on your own? Look at you go, tech wiz.

“She’s.. Impressed? And telling me to leave? Bucky’s face twisted in thought.

Sam hoisted himself up off of the ground and dusted himself off before clapping him on the shoulder. “Relax, man. She’s just messing with you. It’s a good thing.”

“I don’t get how this is a good thing,” Bucky muttered, tucking his phone away. “First, she hits me with lol, and now this. I had to Google that. I thought she was calling me lame or lost or something.”

Sam cackled, but Steve raised a brow.

“And what did you find out?” Steve asked, and Sam continued to laugh.

“It means she laughed. But she didn’t actually laugh. She just typed it.”

Sam’s grin widened. “Oh, Barnes. You’ve got it bad.”

Bucky scowled, but his body betrayed him, his neck and the tips of his ears turning pink with embarrassment.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he huffed indignantly.

“Oh, you do,” Sam shot back. “But it’s cool. I can’t wait to see how you react when she drops SMH on you.”

Bucky narrowed his eyes. “SMH? What’s that one?”

Sam and Steve exchanged a glance before Steve patted Bucky’s shoulder. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“And how do you know these things?” Bucky snapped, and Steve merely rolled his eyes.

“I actually tried to learn about the time I’m living in, unlike some people I know,” he shot back, then took off down the path. “Last one back’s a dirty sock!”

“Should be Bucky, all he’s got are dirty ass socks,” Sam grumbled, and Bucky rolled his eyes.

“Better watch it, or you’re gonna find my dirty ass socks in your pillowcase.”

Bucky took off after Steve, leaving Sam in the dust.

Bucky (12:14pm): Sam told me what gtfo means today.

Leo (12:22pm): congrats! You still have a lot of catching up to do 👴

Bucky (12:23pm): Is that an old man? I thought you were supposed to respect your elders.

Leo (12:25pm): Me? Being mean? To you? I would never.

Bucky (12:28pm): Sounds like you’re being pretty mean to me right now.

Leo stared down at her phone.

Were they… flirting?

She’d wondered if his appearance on her floor to ask for her number was an attempt at flirting. A terrible attempt, but an attempt nonetheless.

How had they gone from that awkward encounter to teasing and flirting over dinner to this?

She was glad she’d gone back to her apartment to have lunch, otherwise everyone in the food hall would see her struggling to figure out how to proceed, because Bucky Barnes flirting with her? That seemed absurd.

There was no way.

Bucky (12:35pm): Did I lose you?

Leo smiled, biting her lip. An unfamiliar giddiness flooded her at the thought of him waiting for her response long enough to double text.

Leo (12:36pm): Sorry, I was too busy knitting and listening to my phonograph. You know, old people stuff.

Bucky (12:38pm): That’s funny. You’re hilarious.

Leo (12:39pm): I try. You know, you could’ve just said lol.

She set her phone down beside her and leaned back against the couch, letting out a slow breath.

This was harmless. Just two people messing around, ribbing each other. Bucky wasn’t Cole.

But the doubt lingered anyway.

Cole had started like this too. Attentive, charming, making her feel like she was the only person on the planet. Until she wasn't. Until he got bored of her, and found what he wanted elsewhere.

Her phone vibrated again.

Bucky (12:43pm): You’re different, you know.

Leo (12:45pm): Different how?

Three dots appeared, then disappeared, then reappeared again. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt anticipation when texting someone.

Bucky (12:47pm): Just different. In a good way.

Leo (12:48pm): Don’t let Sam hear you say that. Your bestie might get jealous.

Bucky (12:50pm): He’s definitely not my bestie.

Leo (12:50pm): You’re delusional. BFFs forever.

Bucky (12:55pm): What are you doing Saturday?

Leo blinked.

She hesitated, her fingers hovered over the keyboard. Something about the way he asked made it seem like he was giving her an out, even though she said she’d wanted to meet up, made her feel better about this. They hadn’t picked a time or even a day, so their weekend plans felt up in the air until right now.

Leo (12:58pm): I think I have plans with you.

Bucky (1:00pm): You bet you do. Pick you up at 10.

Leo (1:02pm): Works for me!

Bucky liked “Works for me!”

When did he figure out how to react to messages?

She didn’t have time to think about it too much because she had to get back to work by 1:15, so she quickly put her plate and glass in the sink, then pulled her sneakers back on and headed out the door.

Leo wasn’t usually that indecisive about her outfits, but this morning was entirely different.

Nothing was right. She ended up changing her shirt like six times before settling on an oversized sweater and jeans, then threw on her go-to wool coat. Casual, but not lazy. Comfortable, not not sloppy. She wanted to look nice without trying too hard. She glared at the mountain of clothes that had appeared on her bed.

Why did it even matter? It was just Bucky.

She checked her watch: 9:58 a.m. He was coming at 10, so she was just on time. Just as she finished lacing her favorite sneakers, a sharp knock on the door startled her. Wasn’t she just gonna meet him outside?

She opened the door to find him waiting for her with a small smile on his face. His leather jacket was unzipped to reveal a plain gray t-shirt and a pair of sunglasses hung from the collar. He had on a black baseball hat for what she suspected he considered incognito mode.

“Mornin’,” he said brightly and gave her a little wave, and his vibranium hand seemed to glimmer in the hallway light.

“Hi,” she answered, suddenly feeling self conscious when faced with how effortless and cool he looked.

“You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” she sighed dramatically, grabbing her bag and stepping into the hallway, locking her door behind her.

They walked to the car, a sleek, black SUV he’d borrowed from the compound, parked at the curb.

Bucky opened the passenger door for her with a small smile.

“Thanks,” she murmured, sliding in.

He rounded the car, settling into the driver’s seat and adjusting the mirrors. “So, where to first?”

“There’s a place in Manhattan where I’ve gotten dresses from before. Figured we’d start there, find a dress, and match your suit to it after?”

“Alright,” he said as he pulled down his sunglasses, letting her enter the address into the GPS. “This doesn’t seem too bad. Shopping for wedding clothes can’t be that hard, right?”

Leo shot him a skeptical look before putting on her own sunglasses. There’s no way she looked anywhere near as good as he did in her round, gold framed shades.

“You’ve clearly never shopped with a woman before.”

She could tell he was watching her from behind his dark lenses as he chuckled. “How hard can it be?”

She smirked, leaning back in her seat. “Famous last words.”

Bucky was a great driver. Not that Leo was surprised whatsoever.

During the almost two-hour drive, she found herself watching his hands on the steering wheel, then catching herself and looking anywhere else, which usually ended up being his arms or his face. He was so focused, his movements steady and precise as he weaved through traffic with ease.

He was a god-level parallel parker. She’d failed the parallel parking portion of her drivers test three times before she finally got her license in high school, but he somehow managed to squeeze into a spot right outside of the store on the first try, his right hand on her headrest as he guided the SUV into the tight space like it was nothing.

It was probably the hottest thing she’d ever seen a man do before.

Leo shouldn’t have been surprised that the chaos started as soon as they set foot into the first dress shop, since the ride down had been so smooth and they had parked right out front.

Karma, or something like that.

“There are so many,” she said, staring at the racks of gowns in every color, style, and lengths imaginable. “I don’t remember it being like this.”

“Yeah… This is a lot,” Bucky agreed, trailing behind her as she picked a rack and flipped through options.

After declining help from the sweet employee that greeted them, she decided that they could divide and conquer. Pick a few options each, then she’d try on. She told him her size, and that it could be different depending on the style of the dress, and gave him some options for the color palette. Charlie’s wedding colors were a pretty pastel pink and gold, so she wanted to avoid that so she didn’t accidentally match the bridesmaids.

They split up and she moved through the store, touching fabrics and eyeing patterns, pulling anything that really spoke to her.

It took a little bit, but they reconvened near the dressing rooms, and Bucky handed off the dresses he’d found, surprising Leo with just how many he’d picked.

“Six?” she groaned, “Bucky, come on.”

“You’ll survive,” he laughed, shooing her into the first open room.

“I don’t know, will I?” she shot him a halfhearted glare, then closed the door.

She hung everything up and stared at the 10 dresses before her, trying to eliminate any of the ones he’d chosen off the bat, but she actually didn’t mind the color or silhouette of any of them. He surprisingly had good taste?

The first dress she stepped into was a tight sheath in an emerald green color.

“Let’s see it,” Bucky called, lounging on the designated boyfriend chair outside.

“Absolutely not,” she called back, wrestling with the zipper.

The next dress was better, a flowy powder blue with a high neckline and open back that Bucky had picked. She took a picture and sent it to the group chat.

[gossip girls]

Leo (12:58pm): What about this one? Too plain?

Cosette (12:59pm): Love the color, but it fits kinda meh. Could be better.

Roxy (1:00pm): Let’s see the back?

Meanwhile, Bucky was outside, tapping his foot as he waited.

“Everything okay in there?” he asked as she was busy taking a picture of the back to send off.

“Fine,” she told him, trying to wiggle out of the dress.

The third dress was a contender– a silk, aubergine colored gown that hugged her figure just enough, but would allow her room to move on the dance floor. It was floor length, but had a slit up the left thigh that didn’t make her too nervous, and the neckline was tasteful. The back was open like the second dress, but she actually liked it. She opened the door to let Bucky see this one, and while he was coming over she snapped a photo in the mirror, only to catch a blurry reflection of him in the corner of the frame.

She didn’t even notice him in it before she sent it off to the chat.

[gossip girls]

Eliza (1:05pm): WHO. IS. THAT.

Cosette (1:05pm): excuse me, ma’am. WHO is that tree of a man in the background?

Roxy (1:05pm): Don’t lie. Spill immediately.

Leo (1:06pm): No one. It’s a mannequin, obv!

Eliza (1:06pm): Mannequins don’t have shoulders like that.

Cosette (1:06pm): mannequins dont have a PRESENCE like that.
Cosette (1:06pm): IS THAT UR DATE????

Roxy (1:07pm): IS IT?

Mortified, Leo closed out of the group chat and shoved her phone into her bag, thankful that he’d been obscured enough in the photo so they couldn’t tell who it was.

“Everything alright?” Bucky asked again, concern on his face before he saw her in the dress. “Wow, I had a feeling that one would look good on you.”

“Everything’s perfect! Totally fine,” she squeaked, ignoring the compliment and how it made her feel. “I think this is the one.”

“I gotta agree with you on that. Need anything else? Shoes? Purse? Uh… other stuff?”

Leo shook her head, “I think I have heels that will work with this already, and everything else, too. Just need to get dressed and pay, then it’s your turn to play dress up.”

Bucky blanched, and she cackled as she closed the door in his face so she could get changed.

They stepped into a menswear shop a few doors down, and Leo immediately noticed how different it was from the store they’d just been in. Where the boutique had been well lit, light, and easy, this place was a little darker, filled with rich colors and smelled like leather and expensive cologne.

While they’d been greeted by a woman and declined her help at the other store, they were basically swept up by a tall, impeccably dressed, older man who had taken one look at Bucky and clapped his hands together.

“Ah, sir, you are a dream! Such broad shoulders! What a frame! We’ll make you a masterpiece. I’m Charles, please, come this way.”

Bucky blinked. “Uh… thanks?”

Leo bit her lip to stifle a laugh as Charles dragged Bucky towards the racks, pulling suit jackets, shirts, and trousers off hangers with an ease that said he’d been doing this for years.

He hadn’t even asked about measurements.

“This one,” Charles said, holding up a navy jacket. “And this. Oh, dear, what color is your dress?”

He gestured to the bag that Leo had slung over her shoulder, and she handed it over, letting him pull it out and take a look.

“Simply divine,” he beamed, hanging it up outside of a fitting room, “Let’s leave this here for reference.”

Charles immediately dumped the navy jacket, changing his mind now that he’d seen her dress.

They watched as he flitted around the store, rifling through shirts and then a tie rack before he returned with his finds, which included several jackets, pants, and shirts.

“We’ll start here. Please, please, try them on,” Charles all but pushed Bucky towards the fitting room, and Leo wished him the best of luck, giving him a playful salute as he closed the door on her.

The first suit was a disaster. The jacket was too tight across his chest, the buttons straining to stay closed. Leo almost put her sunglasses on in lieu of safety goggles.

“I feel like the Hulk in this thing,” he grumbled as he stepped out, tugging at the lapels.

Leo burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. “You look like you’re gonna burst out of it.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” he sighed, then retreated into the fitting room.

The second suit went in the opposite direction and hung from him like a sack.

“This is what Steve looked like in my hand-me-downs growing up,” he laughed, holding up his arms as the sleeves flopped around loosely.

The third attempt was somehow worse. Bucky walked out in a burgundy, velvet jacket that made him look like a ‘70s lounge singer.

Leo was practically crying with laughter, sneakily taking photos to send to him later, or to hold onto to bribe him with one day.

“Okay, is he messing with you?” she asked, wiping the tears from her cheeks, careful of her makeup. “He’s so well dressed but he’s doing this to you?”

“I don’t know, but it needs to stop,” he groaned as he adjusted the hideous tie. “Help? Please?”

Leo gave a nod and spun around, passing by Charles on her way out, noticing that he had a few more things in his hands.

She scanned the racks, silently thanking herself for checking all of the tags of the things he had tried on already, so she had a basic idea of what size she was looking for.

It had been a while since she’d helped someone pick out a suit, but she felt fairly confident when she pulled a charcoal gray jacket and pants, then a crisp white shirt. On her way back to the fitting room, she stopped by the tie rack and pulled a silky floral tie that looked like it matched the color of her dress, wondering how Charles had passed it up. She plucked it off the rack and laid it over the jacket, then went back to the fitting rooms, where she found Charles looking at Bucky with an assessing gaze.

“Hm, no, that’s not right. I don’t think it’s quite what you’re going for,” he tutted before turning on his heel and breezing past Leo, who locked eyes with a clearly distressed Bucky.

“Here, try these,” she offered, holding the clothes out to him as she tried her hardest not to laugh at the paisley patterned jacket he had been stuffed into. “I really think he’s messing with you.”

He took the hangers, giving her a grateful smile before he disappeared behind the door again.

When he stepped out, Leo went completely silent.

“Well?” he asked, turning to look at himself in the mirror. The suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and hugging his frame, and she couldn’t help but stare.

“Uh…” Leo cleared her throat, forcing herself to look away. Holy shit. “Yeah. That’s the one.”

He caught her reflection in the mirror and flashed a smirk. “Just yeah? Come on, you were all loud about the rest of ‘em.”

“Don’t push your luck, Barnes,” she said, hiding her face behind her phone as she pretended to scroll.

Thankfully Charles reappeared, his eyes lighting up at the sight before him.

“Ah, I knew I’d find something perfect for you,” he beamed, and Leo rolled her eyes. “No adjustments needed whatsoever, I’d say.”

“Great job, Chuck,” Bucky went along with it, shooting Leo a wink, and Charles merely waved him off.

“All in a day’s work, my boy. I’ll meet you and the missus at the counter when you’re ready.”

Leo stared at Charles’ back as he walked away, and as soon he was out of earshot Bucky snorted.

“Alright, give me a minute and we can get going, Missus Barnes,” he grinned. “I think I still need shoes, but I don’t want to go through that again.”

Shaking her head, Leo knew she needed to get out of there before she said something stupid.

“You sure you don’t want to try some on here? I’m sure they’ve got some velvet loafers to go with that jacket you had on earlier.”

He gasped, eyes narrowing into a playful glare before he hightailed it back into the dressing room and closed the door behind him.

Leo laughed and grabbed her dress off the hanger, securing it in the bag. She called out, letting him know that she’d see him at the register, then made her way through the store to find Charles waiting for her.

“Do you have pocket squares?” she asked, “Might be nice to have one that matches the tie.”

Together they looked through the stacks, and Leo pulled one that matched her dress and the tie perfectly.

Bucky finally emerged, holding onto everything, his hat slightly askew after he’d put it back on in a hurry. Leo laughed at how frazzled he looked, wondering if she had looked the same way after she tried on all those dresses.

They checked out and Bucky handed over a sleek, black credit card, a sheepish grin on his face.

“Tony may have heard about this shopping adventure and told me to expense it. Said it’ll have to pull double duty at one of his parties or something,” he shrugged.

Charles thanked them for their business, handing Bucky the bag with a smile, and together they headed back out onto the busy street.

“Christ, I thought that was never gonna end,” he said as soon as they were outside, letting out a huff. “Remind me never to go shopping again.”

“You’re acting like this was torture,” she laughed, but then cut herself abruptly when she realized exactly who she was talking to.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“It was torture. All those mirrors and weird lighting? And Charles? What was he on?”

“Well, you survived,” she teased, rolling with his playful attitude. “And now you have a suit that makes you look like a movie star.

He raised an eyebrow before he put his sunglasses on. “So you admit I look good in it?”

“Don’t let it go to your head, Sarge.”

He smirked as he opened the back door so they could toss their bags inside. “Too late. It’s already there. Ego inflated, mission accomplished.”

“C’mon, I’ll treat you to lunch for being so brave and putting up with Charles treating you like a doll.”

A wide grin took over his face and he opened the passenger door for her, closing it once she was inside.

Once he was in his seat, Leo offered to pull up a lunch spot on the map, and he shook his head.

“I know a place, don’t worry about it. How about you put on some music,” he suggested, and she happily obliged.

Bucky parked in front of a small diner tucked between a laundromat and a hardware store. It looked like it had been there forever, and he knew for a fact that it had been.

She glanced at him, curious. “This is where we’re eating?”

“Trust me,” he said as he turned off the engine. “Best food in New York.”

She gave him another curious look but followed him inside.

The diner was exactly like he remembered it. Checkered floors, red vinyl booths, and a jukebox in the corner that still had records from the 1930’s on rotation. The air was warm and smelled like grease and nostalgia. He loved it.

“James Barnes!”

Bucky looked up to see a woman in her sixties standing behind the counter. She had graying hair pulled up into a messy bun and wore a faded red apron over her clothes. She looked stern, but the bright grin on her face told him he wasn’t in that much trouble.

“Heya, Marie,” he called back, smiling at her.

Marie bustled out from behind the counter, a coffee pot in hand. “It’s been too long, mister! You don’t call, you don’t write.”

“I’ve been busy,” he answered sheepishly, his gaze flashing to Leo briefly, catching her watching the exchange with a small smile on her lips.

“Busy, my foot. You should make time to stop in here whenever you’re in the city,” she scolded, but her tone was affectionate. Then her eyes slid over to Leo, a curious look on her face that she wasn’t even trying to hide. “And who might this be?”

Bucky hesitated for half a second, not quite sure what to say.

“Hi, I’m Leo,” she filled in for him, giving a little wave. “Nice to meet you.”

Marie’s sharp eyes flicked between them, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.

“Well, any friend of James is a friend of ours. Come on, sit. Your usual booth is free.”

Bucky led Leo to a booth near the back. It was quieter there, away from the clatter of the kitchen and chatter of the regulars.

“You come here a lot?” Leo asked as she slid into the booth across from him.

“Used to,” he shrugged, picking up the laminated menu out of habit more than anything. “Came a lot when I got back from Wakanda. And Steve and I came here all the time before… well, before.” He glanced out the window, his voice trailing off.

Leo didn’t press, instead opening her own menu and focusing on trying to figure out what she was going to order.

Marie appeared a moment later with two mugs of coffee.

“You still take it black?” she asked Bucky.

“Yeah,” he said, grateful for her interruption.

She turned to Leo. “What about you, sweetheart?”

“Uh, cream and sugar, please,” she answered with a small smile. “I don’t want it to taste like coffee.”

“Got it, coming right up. And don’t you worry, I’ll keep this one in line for you,” Marie said with a wink before heading back to the counter, returning shortly with cream and sugar packets.

“She’s nice,” Leo chuckled as she stirred her coffee, taking a sip to make sure it was to her taste. He noted the color once she nodded, storing it away so he could recreate it for her later.

“Yeah, she’s great,” Bucky said, sipping from his mug. It reminded him of what he used to drink back in the ‘30s, a bitter and dark roast just bordering the edge of burnt, exactly how he remembered it.

They ordered burgers and fries, and the conversation turned to lighter topics.

Leo told him a story about her childhood cat that used to steal socks, and Bucky found himself laughing more than he had in weeks.

When their food came, Marie lingered for a moment, watching Bucky with a smile that was almost motherly.

“It’s good to see you smiling, James,” she said softly, giving his shoulder a light squeeze before bustling off again.

Leo didn’t comment on it, but the look she gave him was soft and thoughtful.

As they ate, Bucky found himself relaxing in a way he hadn’t expected. The diner was familiar and comforting. And sitting across from Leo, watching her animatedly describe the ridiculous group chat comments about her dress options, felt… easy.

He didn’t even realize how much time had passed until Marie came by to clear their plates and refill their coffee.

“You sure you don’t want pie?” she asked. “We’ve got your favorite today, apple crumb.”

Bucky hesitated, glancing at Leo, who grinned, “Pie sounds good.”

“Two slices then,” he told Marie.

As they dug into the warm, cinnamon laced pie, Leo glanced around the diner. “I can see why you like it here. It’s got a good vibe.”

Bucky nodded, swallowing a bite. “It’s one of the few places that still feels… normal.”

Leo looked at him, her expression softening. “Normal’s nice.”

“Yeah,” he said quietly, meeting her gaze. “It is.”

He liked this, being here, in a place he’d been dozens of times before, with a girl he liked spending time with. A girl he felt normal around.

When they finally left, Marie wavered them off with a cheerful smile and a, “Don’t be a stranger, you two!”

As they walked to the SUV, Leo glanced up at him, a shy smile on her face. “Thanks for bringing me here. It was really nice.”

“Anytime,” he said as he unlocked the car and opened the door for her.

For the first time in what felt like forever, he realized he meant it.

He wanted to spend more time with her, and he hoped she wanted to spend more time with him too.

Chapter Text

Leo squinted at her laptop, the bright light of the screen nearly blinding her in the darkness of her living room. Her web browser was a disaster. At least twenty tabs open, each filled with flight options, car rentals, and the resort where the wedding was being held at. She really wished someone would just do this for her, because she was knee deep in logistics and drowning fast.

After staring at flight times for way too long, she realized that she couldn’t do this alone. She glanced at the time in the top right corner of her computer screen– 8:45 wasn’t too late, right?

Leo (8:45pm): hi. was looking at flights and realized that I prob need your input.

Bucky (8:49pm): Be there in 20.

Leo blinked at the screen, then glanced around her apartment. She hadn’t actually meant now. But he was on his way, and she needed to clean up.

She darted into the kitchen, muttering disdainfully, “Why do I never do dishes?”

The sink was a disaster zone of coffee mugs, plates, and the suspicious looking blender cup of her most recent smoothie from… maybe yesterday? Without thinking, she threw everything into the dishwasher, not even bothering to rinse them off. She’d run it later. Twice.

Next, she tackled the living room. Socks piled by the front door? Into the hall closet. The bra she’d basically ripped off as soon as she got home from work? Maybe she should put that back on.

Tugging off her shirt, Leo begrudgingly strapped herself into the bra, then pulled her shirt back on and smoothed it out.

“Fuck bras,” Leo grumbled, then quickly checked her appearance in her bathroom mirror, regretting the fact that she’d scrubbed off her makeup when she got home earlier.

She didn't have the time or energy to reapply anything, and she really didn’t think Bucky would care. Not that she cared if he cared. It was 9 o’clock on a Friday night. She could be bare faced in her own home if she wanted to be.

A soft knock on her front door pulled her from her internal monologue, and she quickly left her bedroom, making sure to close the door behind her.

How did he get up to her apartment? Usually visitors have to check in at the front desk and get buzzed up… oh, right. He did it when they went shopping, too. He had an insanely high clearance and could probably badge into anywhere in the compound if he wanted to.

She opened the front door to find Bucky standing here, hair pushed up and off of his forehead, dressed in his usual combination of jeans, a henley, and leather jacket. He looked casual, comfortable, and insanely hot.

Maybe she should’ve put mascara on. Or a better bra.

“You sure don’t waste any time,” she said, stepping aside to let him in.

“You said you needed help,” he replied simply, holding up a bag of takeout she hadn’t asked for, but was excited to see. “Figured you could use food, too.”

Her stomach growled in response, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Fine, you win.”

They settled on the couch, cartons of Chinese food spread out on the coffee table between them, Leo’s laptop perched precariously on the armrest.

“So,” Leo began, pointing at the screen. “I’ve narrowed it down to three flights, but none of them are ideal. And don’t even get me started on the rental cars.”

Bucky leaned closer, his brows furrowing as he studied the options. “Why does it feel like I’m looking at some secret code?”

She snorted. “Because you’ve probably never booked a flight in your life. You’ve got I only fly the Quinjet vibes.”

Bucky smirked, leaning back. “Maybe. Or maybe I just don’t like dealing with all this nonsense.”

“You’re hopeless,” Leo teased, scrolling through the options again. “Do you at least have a preference for the flight? Morning, afternoon, or a red eye?”

“Red eye,” he said without hesitation.

“Figures. You don’t strike me as a morning person.”

Bucky glanced at her, offering a small shrug. “Not when I have a choice and Stevie’s not wakin’ me up for some god awful morning run.”

“Stevie?” Leo asked, a devious smile on her lips now. “You mean to tell me that you call Steve Rogers Stevie?”

“When I’m not callin’ him punk, yeah. Gotta knock him down a peg or two, or else he’ll get too big for his already enormous boots,” Bucky laughed.

Ugh, this was gold.

Unfortunately, they’d had to go with a morning flight that would put them in with plenty of time to get ready for the welcome party. Bucky had groaned about it, but ultimately relented.

“I’ll pay for the travel expenses,” he said suddenly while she was filling out his information for the flight reservation. She wondered how many people had to do a double take when they saw that he was born in 1917. She’d had to scroll so far to get to the year, she was surprised it was even an option.

Leo paused, looking up from her laptop. “What? No. Charlie’s parents are paying for the hotel for her core group of friends, so the room is covered as long as you don’t mind sharing? We’ll request two beds. So it’s just the flight and rental car that we’re splitting.”

Bucky shook his head resolutely. “We can share a room, that’s fine, but we’re not splitting the cost.”

“Oh, so you’re one of those guys?” she asked, shooting him a scrutinizing look as she tried to ignore the fact that he was okay with them staying together. She’d figured he would put up a fight about it. Leo didn’t mind sharing a room with someone at all.

“One of what guys?”

“The kind who thinks paying for stuff means you get to win some kind of chivalry award.”

Bucky chuckled, leaning closer. “It’s not about that.”

“Then what is it about?” Was this because he was old fashioned? From a bygone era where men paid for everything?

“It’s about the fact that I still have Stark’s credit card, and I know for a fact that it doesn’t have a limit,” he said with a sly grin, making Leo’s eyes widen.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would’ve picked first class seats instead of comfort plus!”

She had zero qualms about using Stark’s card to pay for their travel.

“Can you go back and change it?” he asked as he peered down at the screen she was on.

Leo quickly went back to their seat selection and chose two first class seats next to each other for both flights, then entered in the card information at checkout.

“Amazing. If you can’t take a Quinjet, at least you’ll be able to travel in style,” she beamed, handing him back the card.

Bucky left it on the coffee table next to his simple black leather wallet, which she noted with amusement. It suited him, uncomplicated and practical. It wasn't even stuffed full. Her wallet was currently about to burst at the seams. Maybe she should clean it out… later.

Once the flights were booked, they moved on to the rental cars.

“Full disclosure, I know nothing about cars, so… you can just pick whatever you want,” she said as she pushed the laptop towards him.

Leo leaned back against the couch, her eyes darting between Bucky and her laptop as he scrolled through the rental car options. He clicked through the pages with the kind of calm precision that made her wonder if he was treating this like some covert mission. She was also curious about the rumors around the compound that all said he was a luddite who refused to learn about any modern technology more than absolutely necessary, because it seemed like he knew exactly what he was doing right now.

“You’re taking this awfully seriously,” she teased, popping a piece of broccoli into her mouth.

“You said I could pick, didn’t you?” he replied, not looking away from the screen. “Besides, if I’m driving, it needs to be something I want to drive. Not some sporty thing I can’t fit in.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “You’re driving?”

Bucky finally glanced at her, letting out an annoyed huff. “You trust me to pick the car, but not to drive it?”

“I just assumed we’d share the responsibility. I’m not sure how much driving’s gonna be involved for the weekend,” she said as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Leo narrowed her eyes at him, though she wasn’t really glaring at him. “Are you always this bossy?”

“Only when I’m right,” Bucky shot back, grinning now.

“Wow. I feel so lucky to have you as my travel buddy,” she deadpanned, making him chuckle.

He decided on an SUV option, something sleek and practical, not too big. It was similar to what they’d taken to Manhattan.

“This will work,” he said as he put in his information. “Do you have… Enterprise Rewards?”

“Gimme,” she held out her hand for the laptop, and Bucky passed it over so she could log in.

Once she sorted the rest of the details, like pickup time, flight numbers, and payment, she closed her laptop with a satisfied sigh. “Well, that’s one less thing to stress about.”

Bucky leaned back against the couch, stretching his arm along the backrest. “See, told you I’d help.” She glanced at him, suddenly aware of how close they were. His arm was just behind her head, his presence warm and inviting.

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head,” she muttered, breaking eye contact to focus on the takeout containers, dishing up more for each of them.

For a few moments, they ate in easy silence, the quiet hum of her apartment the only sound. But then, her curiosity got the better of her.

“So, you’re driving,” she started, setting her chopsticks down. “What else can I expect from this trip? Are you the type to hog the armrest on the plane? Or snore in your sleep?” Bucky couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. “I don’t snore.”

“Sure you don’t,” she teased, leaning back against the arm of the couch to face him. “I’m just saying, if you do, I’m taking the bed furthest from the door.”

“You think I’d let you sleep by the door?” he asked seriously.

Leo blinked, confused by his answer. “Does it really matter?”

“It does. If something happens, I want to be the first line of defense,” he said simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “That’s why I’ll be driving, too. I have a faster reaction time, better reflexes.”

“Wow,” she said finally, her voice soft. She’d never thought of someone doing those things for her, but this was second nature to him. “That’s… not something I even thought about. Very considerate. Sweet, even?”

“Just how I’m wired,” Bucky shrugged, his gaze dropping to the floor, shy all of a sudden.

Leo smiled, going from teasing to something gentler. “Well, I don’t think anyone’s gonna try to break into our room, but I guess we’ll see.”

“Guess so,” he nodded.

The moment hung between them, something unspoken lingering in the air. Leo felt her heartbeat pounding in her chest, but before she could overthink it and say something stupid, she reached for her drink, breaking the tension.

“So,” she said, clearing her throat and forcing a casual tone. “What else do we have to do to prep for this wedding? Flights, hotel, car, I RSVP’d and bought a gift from their registry… Should we practice being ridiculously charming, or do you think we’ve got that covered?”

Bucky smirked, leaning forward to grab a fortune cookie from the table. “I think we’ll be just fine.”

As he cracked open the cookie and read the fortune, Leo couldn’t help but watch him with a smile.

“Opportunity dances with those who are ready to twirl,” he read it aloud, his eyes lighting up as he spoke. “What do you say, doll. Ready to twirl at the reception?”

“Definitely. I’ve been practicing some of the oldies, so you can keep up. You know how to do the Charleston, right?”

“Funny you say that, I actually learned how to Dougie recently,” Bucky told her, and Leo’s eyes widened.

“You what?” she gasped, “No way. This I have to see!”

Bucky shook his head, “Gotta wait til the wedding. Can’t give away all my tricks!”

Leo couldn’t help the grin that worked its way onto her face, unable to believe that he’d picked up some new dance moves. “No fair,” she said, pointing at him with a chopstick. “If you break out the Dougie on the dance floor, I’m making you teach me. In front of everyone.” Bucky just smirked, clearly unbothered. “Deal.” For the first time in a long time, Leo found herself actually looking forward to a wedding.

Chapter Text

“You should totally come to the karaoke bar with us tonight,” Piper, the HR admin Leo had befriended a year ago, said as they ate lunch together, looking to Erin for help. “You never go out with us anymore. Honestly it’s kinda laaaame.”

Leo rolled her eyes, “Please. Erin’s the one that’s never free.”

“I’m sorry but if you had to process the Avengers’ expense reports you’d never be free either,” Erin snapped. “I’m this close to begging engineering to build me some sort of translator so I can read Clint’s handwriting.”

It took some convincing, but Leo found herself trading out her blazer and sneakers for her favorite leather jacket and a pair of boots after she got home from work.

“The things I do to maintain friendships,” she sighed as she touched up her makeup, reapplying her lipstick and tossing it into her bag.

Erin and Piper were already there when she arrived, perched on stools around a small, high-top table near the bar with drinks in hand. They greeted her with cheers and wide smiles, quickly sliding a full glass her way.

The night started off tame enough, with easy conversation about work and friendly banter as they caught up with one another. It had been a while since they’d hung out, and apparently they all had a lot going on.

Piper was working on implementing some new payroll system that seemed like it was a lot of work to actually set up, but would be way easier to use once it was. Erin was ready to rip her hair out because some people thought it was okay to turn in grease stained, scribbled on napkins in lieu of receipts for their expense reports.

Leo downplayed what she’d been up to, admitting that she was busy with her own projects, and helping her boss come up with a streamlined process for how they saved and organized documentation.

“Real riveting stuff, Leo,” Piper laughed before she headed to the bar for another round of drinks.

After that drink and the first round of shots, Erin and Piper shared a look before nodding to one another, and Leo looked between them, confused.

“What?” she asked, sipping her vodka cranberry that she’d begged the bartender to put a handful of lime wedges in.

“We’ve… heard some things,” Piper started, flicking her blonde hair up into a ponytail and tying it off with a hair tie. “About a certain Avenger. Coming to your floor. To see you.”

Erin groaned, “Oh shut up with that vague shit. Why has Bucky Barnes, the poster boy for antisocial behavior, suddenly been spotted with you on several occasions? People are talking about it like they’re seeing Sasquatch.”

She didn’t know if it was the alcohol or the embarrassment, but she felt her face heating up regardless.

“It’s not a big deal. We just wrapped up work on a project,” she answered with a shrug, trying to brush it off. “He came down to the floor to thank me after using a new scope in the field.”

“I’m sure he’s got a scope on you,” Erin grumbled, and Leo shot her a glare. She raised her hands in surrender, “Chill, chill. I’m just saying.”

“Yeah, no one ever sees him around. We all thought he was a ghost or a figment of Captain Rogers’ imagination. Now he’s in the café? In the dining hall? People are saying they’ve seen him over on the residential side of the compound, scanning himself in,” Piper added in, raising a brow. “You wouldn’t have anything to do with that, would you?”

Leo rolled her eyes. “Even if I did, I wouldn’t say anything about it. What Sergeant Barnes does is his own business. Not ours. He’s been scrutinized enough as it is.”

She chugged the rest of her drink and got up from the table, announcing that it was her turn to grab a round. Before anyone could call her out, she went over to the bar, letting out the breath she had been holding in that entire time.

Taking that few minutes she spent waiting for the bartender to clear her head, Leo returned to the table with three fresh drinks, spotting the karaoke setup in the corner starting to come to life. An emcee was setting up, checking the microphones and laying out the big book of songs. A few people were already lined up to put their names down.

Spotting what Leo was looking at, Erin flashed a huge smile. “Let’s watch a couple of people, get the vibe before we put our names down.”

Leo nodded and sat down, pulling out her phone while they waited.

She tapped around social media for a minute or two before an idea hit her, and the buzz she had going on dulled the small voice in the back of her head that was telling her it was stupid and insane. But… what if he actually replied? Nodding to herself, she typed out the message and hit send before she could back out of it.

Leo (8:47pm): guess where i am? hint. it’s loud, sticky, and full of questionable beer choices.

Bucky (8:49pm): Sounds like a five-star place, wherever it is.

Leo (8:50pm): lol very funny. I’m at the karaoke bar. gonna sign up to sing something. tbd on the song tho, waiting on the vibe.

Bucky (8:52pm): Now that I need to see.

Leo (8:55pm): oh ya?
Leo (8:55pm): come thru

Her next message was a blurry photo of herself with Erin and Piper, all three of them grinning and holding up their drinks or peace signs.

She didn’t expect him to respond right away.

But he did.

Bucky (8:56pm): What’s the address?

Leo started sharing her location with Bucky.

Bucky stared at his phone, dumbfounded.

What was happening? What was the vibe she was waiting on?

He’d never dealt with anything like this before…

The photo Leo had sent him was a live photo, and when he pressed it, the girls struck their poses, and then Leo grinned as she pulled the phone back towards herself.

What was he supposed to do now?

She’d sent him her location. He clicked on the name of the bar. He’d heard of it before– Sam had invited him a few times. He always declined.

His phone vibrated in his hand and he glanced down to see if Leo had sent him another text, but there wasn’t anything from her. He went to his messages and saw it was from Sam.

Sam (9:07pm): come get ur girl, man.

Attached was a video of Leo on the small karaoke stage, microphone in hand, mid-chorus of an enthusiastic rendition of a pop song he’d never heard before. Her grin was wide, her cheeks flushed, and her friends were in the background cheering her on. The video flipped to Sam’s face, laughing as he cheered “Leo, Leo!”

His eyes widened with surprise, and that was all the motivation he needed.

He shot off the couch and dug through his closet, pulling out a clean shirt and a pair of jeans, changing out of his sweats. Bucky couldn’t believe he was doing this, but between the texts from Leo that he was pretty sure were flirty, and the nudge from Sam, he knew he couldn’t just sit around.

Bucky left his apartment in a rush, almost colliding with Steve as he stepped out of his front door.

“Woah, Buck, where’s the fire?” Steve asked, pulling him to a stop.

“Just… something I have to go do. What’s up, Stevie?”

“Wanted to see if you’d thought about what you want to do for your birthday, it’s coming up, whether you’d like it or not,” Steve beamed with that shit eating grin of his.

Now was definitely not the time.

“I really don’t want to do anything, okay? Maybe I’ll go on a ride or something, get a little fresh air,” he shrugged. A motorcycle ride didn’t sound half bad. “Love to stay and chat, but I gotta go.”

Steve’s brows furrowed, “Never seen ya in such a rush. But have a good rest of your night. We’ll talk about the birthday stuff later.”

“Sure, sure, bye pal,” Bucky nodded, then took off toward the elevator, ignoring the look he knew Steve was giving him.

Fifteen minutes later, he was pulling up to the bar.

The moment he stepped inside, he was met with the sound of some very drunk women belting out a song Wanda had once played in the compound– a catchy tune that went “gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight.”

Scanning the crowd, Bucky heard someone call his name. He turned and spotted Sam leaning casually against the bar, so he went over and greeted him with a tight smile. He wasn’t thrilled to be there, but he was buzzing with something he thought was excitement or… nerves?

“Hey, man. Glad you showed up. Your girl over there’s getting a little wild,” Sam laughed as he handed him a beer. “Know this won’t do anything for you, but it’ll help you blend in.”

“Thanks. Leo was texting me before you did… She told me she was here, said to come thru.”

Sam raised a brow. “Oh, she did, did she?”

Bucky didn’t like the look on his face whatsoever, so he tried to play it off with a shrug, trying to act dumb.

“Didn’t know she was like that! Who knew all it took was a few drinks to loosen Leo Hughes up enough to send some drunk texts!” Sam grinned, clinking their beers together in a cheers. “Can’t believe she sent a come thru and you actually pulled up.”

Worry came over him like a wave, a rip tide catching him and dragging him along with it. Was she only texting him because she was drunk?

“What does that even mean?” Bucky asked, and Sam rolled his eyes.

“Just go talk to her. She’s over there with her friends, reveling in the free drinks after her riveting performance of Oops I Did It Again.”

Sam gave Bucky a push, and he nodded dumbly, walking over towards the table Leo and her two friends were at.

Bucky made his way through the crowd, trying to ignore the people that were watching him as he passed by. This wasn’t the kind of place he’d usually hang out in, not even during his younger days running around Brooklyn with Steve, but right now, he didn’t care that his boots stuck to the floor or that the woman who was currently singing was so off key it hurt his ears.

He was drawn to a small table where Leo and her friends were sitting. She leaned back in her chair, one hand holding a drink, the other gesturing wildly as she spoke. Her cheeks were flushed as the other girls were doubled over in laughter.

He hesitated for a moment, not sure if he wanted to interrupt her. She looked so at ease, so different from the Leo he’d been spending time with recently. He wondered what it would take to get her to open up like that with him.

A few ways to approach her went through his mind, but before he had the chance to act on any of them, she looked up, catching sight of him. Any thought that had been in his mind immediately vacated in the blink of an eye. Her eyes widened in surprise, then a look of realization hit her face as it clicked.

“Bucky?” she said, loud enough to be heard over the music.

Her friends turned to look at him, and suddenly he was the center of attention. The blonde nudged Leo with a knowing smirk, and the redhead grinned and waved.

“Hey,” he said, raising a hand awkwardly. He cleared his throat, suddenly hyper aware of how out of place he must look in the crowd.

Leo blinked, then broke into a soft, uncertain smile that made something in his chest tighten. “You actually came.”

He shrugged, trying to play it cool. Had she not expected him to?

“You told me you were here.”

“That I did,” she said, standing up and stepping closer to him.

He could feel the warmth of her body heat as she leaned into him, the smell of her perfume, something light and floral, flooded his senses. She was all he could process, the rest of the bar seeming to blur in the peripheral.

“What, uh… what made you decide to come out?” she asked.

Bucky looked down at her, suddenly tongue tied. He definitely didn’t want to admit that it was because she told him to. “I figured I should see you live before you get discovered and become a pop star.”

Her laugh bubbled up out of her, warm and genuine, burying the uncertainty he’d seen moments before. “Oh, come on! You missed my first performance. It was iconic. Britney would’ve been proud.”

“Sam told me all about it,” he said, glancing over his shoulder toward the bar where Sam was watching them with a smug expression.

Leo rolled her eyes. “Of course he did. He loves to gossip!”

Before Bucky could respond, the blonde leaned over and called out, “You gonna introduce your friend to the rest of the class?”

Leo wrapped both of her hands around his vibranium arm, dragging him closer to the table. He made a mental note to send Shuri a thank you for how well she did on his arm again, because he could feel the pressure and even the warmth of her fingers pressing against him.

“Bucky, this is Erin,” she pointed to the redhead, who wiggled her fingers, then she gestured to the blonde. “And this is Piper. They work at the AI, in different departments.”

He gave them both what he hoped was a charming smile. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Bucky–”

“We know,” they chimed at the same time, looking at one another and breaking out in laughter before Piper continued. “So, Bucky, how different is this from your usual Friday night?”

Bucky offered a small, wry smile. “My usual Friday nights involve a lot less… enthusiastic singing. It’s definitely a change of pace, that’s for sure.”

“Well, you’re welcome to sit with us. Especially if you’re gonna stop this one from embarrassing herself again,” Piper laughed, gesturing to Leo.

“Hey!” Leo shot her a playful glare, then turned back to Bucky. “You don’t have to stay if this is too much. I know karaoke bars probably aren’t your thing.”

Buck smirked. “And what exactly is my thing?”

He watched Leo falter, her confidence seeming to waver in front of him. “I don’t know… Brooding? Saving the world?”

“Maybe tonight my thing’s making sure you don’t end up on the internet with a karaoke video you’ll regret.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she laughed, the sound more nervous this time. “Probably too late for that.”

“I guess I’ll have to stick around,” he said, surprising himself with how easy the words came to him now.

Erin and Piper exchanged glances, grinning like they were in on some secret, while Leo looked up at Bucky with something soft and uncertain in her glossy eyes.

“Okay,” she said quietly, a shy smile on her lips. “I’d like that.”

Bucky grabbed the open seat next to her and sat down, listening as the girls debated their next karaoke songs.

His eyes were fixed on Leo as she leaned into his shoulder, her cheeks flushed as she fanned herself with a paper napkin.

“You alright?”

“More than alright,” she replied, her voice warm and a little playful. Her eyes sparkled as she leaned in closer, so only he could hear. “Wanna do a duet?”

He raised an eyebrow, not sure if she was serious, but the thought of her dragging him on stage was somehow less terrifying than it should’ve been, especially when Sam was somewhere in the bar, probably watching his every move.

“I’ll help ya pick your next one, how’s that sound?”

Leo huffed, but nodded anyway, and they made their way over to the DJ booth where the song books were laid out on a table for everyone to peruse.

After she chose Your Love is My Drug, a song he’d never heard of by someone named Kesha, they found themselves tucked away in a quieter corner of the bar, waiting for her turn. Leo leaned her head back against the wall, her eyes closed, and Bucky sat beside her, their shoulders brushing. He could feel the warmth radiating off of her, and he wondered what it would be like to share that warmth on a quiet night curled up on his couch… or maybe even his bed.

Leo tilted her head to look at him, a soft, lazy smile on her pink lips. He could tell she was pretty buzzed, but not too far gone that she wouldn’t remember anything in the morning. He’d never seen someone look as pretty as she did when they were drunk.

“Thanks for coming,” she said, her voice quieter now, almost hesitant. “I mean it.”

“It sounded like you were having fun,” he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. “Figured I’d see what all the fuss was about.”

“You know, having fun isn’t the worst thing in the world,” she teased, shifting slightly, her knee brushing against his. “Is it as fun as you thought it’d be?”

He let a small smile tug at his lips. “Even more.”

He watched her eyes widen and saw the way her breath hitched, and then she was leaning a little closer, invading his space in a way he hadn’t welcomed from another person in decades, but he wanted her to come just a bit closer.

“You know… I think I have you figured out,” she murmured, locking eyes with him, and he watched them glitter with mirth under the dim lights of the bar.

“Oh, do you?” he asked as his stomach flipped, a strange mix of nerves and something deeper settling in him. His gaze flicked to her lips, just for a split second, before meeting her eyes again. “Leo–”

“There you are!” Piper’s voice washed over him like a bucket of cold water.

Both Bucky and Leo jerked apart as Piper grabbed Leo’s hand with a grin. “Come on, it’s our turn. We’re doing Spice Girls!”

Leo groaned, dragging her feet as Piper pulled her toward the stage. “Is it Wannabe at least?”

She glanced over her shoulder at Bucky, her expression somewhere between pleading and resigned. “Don’t laugh!”

He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face, making his cheeks hurt. “No promises.”

The performance was pure chaos. Leo did the best, surprisingly, while Erin and Piper missed half the words, their dance moves exaggerated and borderline scandalous, but the whole bar loved it. Sam had jumped up on stage at one point, helping them cross the finish line and end the song. Bucky found himself laughing in a way he hadn’t in ages, caught up in the joy radiating from Leo.

When she returned to the corner where he waited, her cheeks were flushed, her voice hoarse from laughing. She flopped into the seat beside him that he’d saved, her head resting back against the wall.

“How was that?” she asked, her tone mock serious.

“A showstopper,” he said in the same tone. “You’ve got a real future in karaoke.”

“Liar!” She nudged him with her elbow, her grin wide and unguarded.

After their final performance, Erin announced to their little group that she and Piper had called a rideshare, asking Leo if she wanted to go with them. Piper gave Bucky a very pointed look, and he chimed in, offering to drive Leo home, and she agreed.

In the car, Leo had practically demanded that he unroll the windows, even though it was 18 degrees outside, but he let her do it as long as her seat warmer was on and the heat was blasting. He might’ve been sweating, but as long as she stayed warm he didn’t care.

During the 15 minute drive Bucky’s focus split between the empty road back to the compound and Leo, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the freezing air blowing in her face. He smiled at the sight of her, admiring how peaceful she looked despite the cold wind.

“Thanks for letting me do this,” she mumbled at some point during the drive. “I know it’s freezing out, but it feels good to air out all that… leftover energy.”

“Not a problem,” he answered quietly, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel, ignoring the cold wind that was blowing in from her window.

When they reached her building, Bucky parked the car and walked her to the front door, which had become the norm by now. She fumbled for her keys, laughing softly as she dug through her bag, grumbling that it was a bottomless pit and something probably lived in there. It wasn’t even that big of a bag, he’d noticed. How could it have so much inside?

She scanned them into the building and he followed behind her toward the elevator bank, resolute in his mission to make sure she got to her apartment safely. She stumbled into the open elevator and haphazardly waved her keyfob in front of the reader, just out of range before she groaned. “FRIDAY, fourth floor please?”

“Yes, Miss Hughes,” the AI called back politely, and she mumbled her thanks into the air as she leaned her head back against the cool wall.

Finally at her front door, she used her hand scanner, and Bucky wondered why they didn’t just have that at the building’s entrance.

She opened the door and turned to face him, leaning against the frame.

“Thanks for coming tonight,” she said, her voice softer now, still a little hoarse from all the singing and yelling she’d done. “It was… really nice.”

“Anytime,” he answered, meaning it just as much as he had the first time he’d said it. “Drink some water and get some rest, alright?”

“Sir, yes sir,” she nodded with a lazy salute, hesitating for a moment before stepping inside. As the door began to close, she peeked back out, her expression softer than he’d ever seen.

“Goodnight, Bucky,” she said, her gaze lingering on him longer than usual, her voice soft with something he wanted to hear more of.

“Goodnight, Leo,” he echoed quietly.

The door clicked shut, and Bucky lingered for a moment, staring down the empty hallway.

His heart was still racing, and not from the usual rush of adrenaline he got in the field, but from something deeper. He wasn’t sure if it was because of her smile, or the way her voice softened when she said thank you, or the fact that every moment with her seemed to leave him wanting more.

As he left her building and got into the car, his phone vibrated, and he pulled it out to read the text.

Sam (1:32am): she keeps you on your toes huh?

Bucky sighed aloud. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

He spent the rest of the weekend avoiding everyone, choosing to stay in his apartment and reflect. Sam would call it brooding, but he didn’t care. He sent Steve a text before he could ask about their morning run, letting him know that he had things to do and would see him on Monday.

After hours at the chaotic karaoke bar, the silence of his apartment was a welcome change. He sat on the couch, alternating between reading and thinking… but mostly thinking.

He’d already cleaned his already spotless kitchen, refolded his laundry, and even tried to watch one of those documentaries Sam always recommended. But nothing worked. Every time his mind wandered, it landed back on Leo.

Specifically, on her laugh that night, loud and unfiltered, the kind that made everyone around her smile too. The way she’d leaned into him during their conversation, buzzed but still very much herself.

They’d been spending more time together lately, and he hated to admit that he was using the wedding as an excuse to do so. They didn’t need to go shopping together, and he didn’t need to invite himself over to her place to help her plan their trip. But he wanted to.

He ran a hand through his hair, pulling at the short strands as he leaned back against the couch cushions.

What the hell was he doing?

Bucky hadn’t felt like this in… ever. Back then, chasing girls had been easy– light, fun, fleeting. But this felt different. Bigger. And he had no idea what to do about it.

He was getting to know Leo on a deeper level. Her quirks, her habits, her friends. And he was sharing more of himself with her than he’d ever shared with anyone. More than his therapist, more than Steve.

It terrified him.

Because Bucky Barnes didn’t get to have things like this. He didn’t get to let people in without putting them at risk. He’d learned that the hard way, over and over again.

But then there was Leo. Smiling at him shyly over her drink, teasing him for picking out the carrots from fried rice because he didn’t like them while at the same time giving him all of her soy sauce packets without a word.

Somehow, she’d slotted herself into his life without even trying, and he didn’t mind. Not at all.

He spent sleepless nights on the floor of his apartment, wondering about what it would be like if she was part of more.

He groaned, slumping forward with his elbows on his knees.

She liked him. He was pretty sure of it, anyway. And if he was being honest with himself… he more than liked her.

But what did he do with that?

He leaned back again, staring up at the ceiling.

The thing was, he knew he couldn’t keep Leo at arm’s length. She was empathetic and sarcastic and all things warm and good. But he couldn’t pursue anything with her and be rejected before they went to the wedding. Then it’d be awkward, and he didn’t want that. He wanted her to have fun with her friends. He wanted to meet her friends, the people who knew her best, so he could learn more about her through them.

So he came up with a plan.

He’d play it cool. Be friendly and casual for the next few weeks. They’d go to the wedding. If something happened after that? Great. If not-- well, being her friend was still better than not being in her life at all.

Chapter Text

Leo stared at her computer screen on Monday morning, blinking slowly as she tried to read the words in front of her. She couldn’t get it together, no matter how much she told herself that she needed to get it together.

The floor buzzed with its usual activity, keyboards clacking, conversations about the weekend or upcoming deadlines floating through the air. Normally, the hum of her coworkers didn’t bother her. But today, it was just noise grating on her already fried nerves.

She’d been hung over most of Saturday, resigned to being curled up in her bed with a headache the size of New York and swearing she’d never mix drinks again. By Sunday, she was strong enough to sit upright and chug Gatorade like her life depended on it, but the residual fog in her head was still there. Normally it takes a few days to get back to normal after a stage five hangover, and this was no exception.

“Focus, Leo,” she muttered to herself, readjusting her chair. She picked up her coffee mug, grimacing when what was left in it hit her tongue. It had definitely gone cold an hour ago, but she didn’t have the energy to grab a fresh cup.

She was startled out of her stupor by a sudden presence beside her desk. Turning, she blinked up at Wanda Maximoff, who stood there with an easy smile and a small tablet in her well manicured hand.

“Hey, Leo,” Wanda greeted, her tone warm and casual.

“Uh… Hi,” Leo replied, sitting up straighter.

Wanda rarely ventured onto their floor, and when she did, it was usually because of something big, and she never came to Leo.

“Do you have a few minutes? I was hoping you could talk me through the specs on the new comms gear,” Wanda asked, gesturing to the tablet.

Leo furrowed her brow. “Didn’t you go over this stuff with field ops already?”

“I did,” Wanda said with a shrug. “But I figured I should get a better handle on the new updates before we actually use it.”

“Alright,” Leo said, though she couldn’t quite shake the feeling that something was off.

She stood up and gestured for Wanda to follow her to a small, private meeting room where they wouldn’t be disturbed, and for the next twenty minutes, they sat huddled over the tablet, going over the documentation. Wanda asked thoughtful, pointed questions… almost too many, Leo thought.

When Wanda finally left with a wave and a cheerful “Thanks, Leo!” in her pretty Sokovian accent, Leo returned to her desk, staring after her with a puzzled expression.

The rest of the day passed without incident, but the next morning brought another unexpected visitor.

Leo was just settling into her seat, a fresh cup of coffee in her hand, when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Morning, Miss Hughes.”

What the fuck?

She finally turned to find Tony Stark standing there, a carton of blueberries in one hand, his other cupped to hold a few that he was tossing into his mouth with practiced ease.

“Mister Stark,” she said, blinking in surprise. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I need a quick walkthrough on the integration process for the new suits,” he said, heading towards a conference room without waiting for an invitation.

Leo watched him, confused. “Didn’t you design that?”

“I did, but I’d like to hear it from the person who wrote the documentation,” Tony leaned out of the doorway as he spoke, motioning for her to join him with his hand full of blueberries.

She rolled her eyes and sent out a message to whatever deity existed, Thor, maybe? He was a God… That this impromptu meeting wouldn’t take long so she could get back to her actual work instead of dealing with whatever weirdness this was.

When Steve Rogers showed up at her desk on Wednesday, holding one of the prototypes she’d written documentation for, Leo couldn’t hide her exasperation.

“Let me guess,” she said as he approached. “You have a question about the specs?”

Steve chuckled sheepishly, his cheeks turning pink as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Well, yeah. The briefing didn’t cover everything, and I thought you’d be the best person to explain it.”

Sighing, Leo pointed him to the meeting room she’d been using for the past three days.

As she walked him through the functionality of the prototype, Steve listened carefully, nodding along. He asked fewer questions than Wanda or Tony, but something about his demeanor, polite but oh so awkward, put her on edge.

He thanked her when they were finished, letting her know that he appreciated the extra help without giving her any notice, and that he’d try to be better about just dropping in on her in the future. Leo waved him off, telling him that it was no big deal.

Really, she was just trying to get him out of her hair as fast as humanly possible.

When she got back to her desk, Taryn rolled her chair closer to her desk, a look on her face that clearly asked ‘what the fuck is going on?’

“Your guess is as good as mine,” she sighed. “I have so much shit to catch up on. Next one that comes in I’m sending your way.”

“Good luck with that,” Taryn laughed, then rolled back to her own desk.

By the time Friday rolled around, Leo was at her wit’s end. The week had been a revolving door of Avengers, and it didn’t make any sense. She finally brought it up when she met Bucky for lunch at a quiet café near the compound. Initially she’d wanted to talk about what had happened at karaoke, but decided she wasn’t ready for the rejection she’d face if she admitted that she had feelings for him, so she was gonna talk about this instead.

“You know,” she said, picking at the edge of her sandwich. “Something weird’s been going on all week.”

Bucky looked up from his food, his brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”

“Wanda came to my desk on Monday, Tony on Tuesday, and Steve on Wednesday. They all had questions about things they don’t usually need my help with. It’s like they’ve suddenly decided I’m the go-to person for everything, even if it’s not my project?” she said, knowing that she sounded frustrated, but needing to vent. “Did I do something wrong? Is this some kind of… test? Like, am I being audited by my department head?”

She watched Bucky’s expression darken as he realized what was going on. His jaw tightened, and he set his sandwich down.

“They’re not coming to you because they need help,” he said, his voice low, annoyed.

She frowned. “Then what are they coming for?”

“They’re trying to figure you out,” he explained, leaning back in his chair. “They’re curious. They’ve been asking me about you since we’ve been hanging out more. And after karaoke night, they’re being nosy as hell.”

Leo stared at him, her mouth falling open. “Are you serious? You mean to tell me I’ve been dealing with Avengers all week because they’re nosy?”

“Pretty much,” he shrugged, his tone laced with irritation and amusement.

“That’s ridiculous,” she muttered, rubbing her temples.

“I’ll handle it,” Bucky told her firmly. “Don’t worry about them.”

And handle it he did. After heading back to the compound, he cornered Wanda, Tony, Steve, and Sam all together, seemingly deep in conversation in the common area of their living quarters, his expression hard and unyielding.

“Alright,” he said, crossing his arms. “Leo’s not your personal tech concierge. If you have real questions, fine. But if you’re just snooping around because you’re gossips, back off.”

Wanda gave him a look, clearly unimpressed.

“We were just curious,” she said defensively.

“Well, don’t be,” Bucky shot back.

Tony smirked, “You’re pretty worked up about this, huh loverboy?”

“You’re stressing her out. She thinks her job’s in trouble and you guys showin’ up is a test, so cut it out,” he said without hesitation.

“Buck,” Steve started, and Bucky locked eyes with his best friend, daring him to say something stupid. “We didn't mean anything by it. Sam told us about seeing you two at the bar on Friday and we… wanted to know more?”

“Maybe don’t be weird about it,” he snapped. “And don’t go down to her floor anymore. Causing a scene and her coworkers have been giving her the third degree about your impromptu visits.”

“Won’t happen again,” Steve promised, and Bucky looked at the others, who all nodded in agreement.

Satisfied, he left the common area, waiting until he was in the safety of the elevator to let out a deep sigh.

Monday toward the end of the day, Bucky’s phone vibrated while he was reading through a mission report an agent had submitted that Steve asked him to go over.

Leo (4:49pm): no unannounced avenger visits today.
Leo (4:49pm): idk what you did but thank you 🥹

Bucky (4:53pm): Just your run of the mill intimidation, you know how it is.

Leo (4:55pm): much appreciated. I owe you one.

He could’ve taken the opening to flirt, but he thought about what he’d decided a little over a week prior, and decided against it.

Bucky (5:02pm): Don’t worry about it. All in a day’s work. Avenger stuff, no big deal.

Leo (5:08pm): 💁‍♀️💁‍♀️💁‍♀️

He really needed to figure out how to translate the emojis she sent.

Leo went about the rest of her week, finishing up a few projects for work, while fielding texts from her friends and dodging questions about her date in the group chat.

The wedding was fast approaching, and she’d started to prepare for the trip by going through her toiletry bag, making sure she didn’t need to restock on anything at the last minute.

She hadn’t seen Bucky around, but they’d exchanged a few texts here and there. She wondered if he was distancing himself after the whole karaoke bar thing. She’d really played herself by getting drunk and inviting him to come out, and then she definitely played herself by being flirty with him. Leo knew she could get touchy feely when she drank, but never in a disrespectful way. She was just more… open? Normally she’d stay out of personal space but after a few drinks, she had no problem leaning in close, a hand on someone’s shoulder so she could get her point across. I’m interested in you, can’t you tell by how I’m not three feet away and making more eye contact than usual?

Maybe he didn’t mind, or maybe he did and he was reconsidering their friendship or whatever it was that they were? But they’d had lunch together the other day…

Leo groaned. She was overthinking and starting to spiral, which was never good.

So instead of letting herself spiral, what did she do?

She put on her noise canceling headphones, turned on some music, and reorganized her closet, looking for things she’d need for San Diego, making a note of things to do some online shopping for, and making a pile of things she didn’t wear anymore so she could send photos to the group chat and see if anyone wanted anything before she donated it all.

A buzz beneath her pillow jolted Leo out of her dreamless sleep, her eyes wide as she felt under her pillow for her phone. She pushed up her sleep mask and squinted at the bright screen, trying to figure out what time it was.

2:47 a.m.

The name flashing on the display made her heart skip a beat.

Bucky.

She sat up and swiped to answer as she tried to figure out why he was calling. He never called.

“Bucky?” she asked softly, trying to clear her voice of the sleepiness she was still feeling.

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, and then his voice came through, quiet and hesitant.

“Hey Leo. Sorry to wake you.”

“Are you okay?” she asked immediately, her concern pushing aside the grogginess.

He let out a soft, self deprecating chuckle. “Yeah, I’m fine… Just… couldn’t sleep.”

She let out the breath she had been holding in, but she couldn’t shake just how vulnerable he sounded. It was different from the confident, sometimes gruff Bucky she was used to seeing. This Bucky sounded… hurt.

“Nightmare?” she guessed gently, not wanting to push too hard. She knew how she was after a nightmare, she couldn’t even imagine how it was for him.

“Something like that,” he admitted. “I didn’t mean to bother you. I just… needed to hear a friendly voice.”

Her heart ached at the quiet admission.

“You’re not bothering me, you never could,” she reassured him. “Glad I forgot to put my phone on do not disturb. Do you want to talk about it?”

He hesitated.

“Not really. Is it okay if we just… talk? About anything else?”

“Of course,” she said, settling back against her pillows and pulling the covers back up so she could get comfortable. “Have I told you about my sister’s dog that has an Instagram account?”

“What?” he laughed, and she could picture him shaking his head incredulously. “Why would a dog need social media?”

Leo launched into telling him all about Jules’ two-year-old Bernese mountain dog named Bosco, who had like ten thousand instagram followers. He had brand deals with pet companies, and did sponsored posts and actually brought in a decent amount of money when it was all said and done.

Bucky told her that was ridiculous. He was a dog, how did he have a job?

“His job is to be cute, it’s really not that hard for him,” Leo laughed. “Have you ever had a pet?”

“No… Fed some strays when I could growin’ up, but had to keep my sisters and Steve fed first. Resources were tight back then,” he said, sounding far away, like he was reliving it. “I always thought I’d like to have a cat. They’re… nice.”

“Not sure I’d call cats nice since they love knocking things off tables, but I definitely like them more than dogs,” she mused. “Not saying I don’t love Bosco… But he’s very… slobbery.”

A deep laugh came through the speaker, and Leo smiled, glad she could get him to make that sound after what she figured was a hard night.

Quiet passed between them, and all she could hear was his breathin. It was steady, but heavier than usual. Like he was trying to ground himself. Then he spoke again.

“Do you ever think about the stars?”

She glanced at her bedroom windows, currently covered with blackout curtains, eliminating any and all light that could possibly peek in.

“The stars?” she asked, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

“Yeah,” he said softly, and she wondered if he was looking outside. “Like, how they’ve been up there forever, watching everything. Kinda comforting, y’know? No matter how much changes down here, they’re still the same.”

A warm feeling bloomed in her chest and she smiled. “I like that. I guess I don’t think about them as much as I should.”

“You should look more,” he murmured. “They’re good company when you can’t sleep.”

“I still can’t believe that people live out in the stars. Thor? Captain Marvel? That raccoon…” She tried to remember his name, but was drawing a blank. “I heard he wants your arm.”

Another laugh bubbled out of him, and her heart skipped a beat.

“Rocket. If that little vermin tries to get anywhere near my arm, I’ll drop kick him back into space.”

He was completely serious, and that’s why Leo ended up cackling, her head thrown back into her pillow as she tried to breathe.

“What, you think I can’t do it?” His tone was teasing, and she finally calmed down enough to clarify.

“No, no, I think you could, and that’s what’s so funny. I’m just picturing you punting a talking raccoon into the sky and it’s just… amazing. Ten out of ten, no notes.”

After that, they fell into an easy flow of conversation back and forth. Bucky asked about her favorite childhood memories, and she told him about how the summer her dad taught her how to fix her mountain bike in their garage. She asked him what music he’d been listening to lately, and he shyly admitted he’d been exploring more modern stuff, though he still had a soft spot for the oldies.

“I’ll send you a playlist,” she told him with a grin, even though he couldn’t see it.

“Only if it’s good,” he teased.

As they continued to talk, the anxiousness left Bucky’s voice and he became less guarded. He told her about his own childhood, tales of mischief with a short, gangly Steve that made Leo laugh until her sides hurt, and then about how he was constantly worried about his best friend’s health issues. In turn, she opened up about her own insecurities, the little fears she tucked away from everyone.

“You know what’s funny?” she said at one point, distracted by her own train of thought. “I always figured you’d be the most intimidating Avenger to talk to. But you’re not, not really.”

“Don’t let the others hear you say that. Gotta keep up my reputation,” he told her in a hushed whisper.

“Your secret’s safe with me,” she promised.

But beneath the teasing, she could sense how much that meant to him. She heard it in the way his voice softened even more. For all his strength and skill, Bucky Barnes wasn’t used to being seen like this… as just a man. Not a soldier or a weapon.

The realization hit her like a bus. She cared about him, so so deeply.

By the time the first rays of sunlight began to filter past the edges of her curtains, their conversation had slowed, the silences between them growing longer and longer.

“I should probably let you get some rest,” Bucky said reluctantly. “I didn’t mean to keep you up all night.”

“Mm?” she asked sleepily, “I don’t mind. Glad y’called. Stay on till I fall asleep?”

“Me too. I’ll stay on, don’t worry about that, doll.”

On the other side of the compound, Bucky spoke softly into the receiver, telling the dozing Leo about his plans for the day, until he heard her breathing slow into something deep and even.

“G’night, Leo,” he said softly, and disconnected the call.

Bucky drew in a deep breath and held it for eight seconds, then released it slowly. With a nod to himself, he got up off of his makeshift bed on the floor and got ready to go for a run.

The days leading up to his birthday passed in a blur. Bucky kept himself busy, sticking to his usual routine. Early morning runs, sparring sessions, tuning up his motorcycle. There was a quick two-day recon mission that took him and Sam to the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert in New Mexico, but otherwise unremarkable. Sleep was hit or miss, but that was nothing new. If anything, the nightmares had settled into more of a manageable, dull ache rather than an all-consuming weight.

He could live with that.

He hadn’t mentioned his upcoming birthday to anyone, and for the most part, the team respected that. Sam made a comment about getting old when they were in New Mexico, and Natasha smirked at him knowingly over breakfast one morning, but otherwise, no one had tried to make a big deal out of it, which was fine by him.

When the day finally arrived, Bucky wasn’t expecting much. He planned on taking his bike out, maybe a low-key dinner, and an early night reading in bed. But of course, Steve had to go and ruin that plan.

“Happy birthday, Buck,” Steve greeted as soon as he stepped into the communal kitchen, and Bucky nearly turned around and walked right back out.

“Shove off,” he shot back, watching Steve pour a second cup of coffee and hold it out for him. “What kind of crap do you have planned for me today?”

Steve shook his head, a playful smile on that boyish face of his. “Nothin’. You said you didn’t want anything, so I’m respecting your wishes.”

“You actually listened to me?” he asked, eyeing Steve warily as he accepted the coffee.

“I’m capable of it every now and then,” Steve scoffed.

Bucky grunted, taking a sip. “Guess I’ll have to find something else to be suspicious about.”

Steve only chuckled before nudging his shoulder. “Go take that ride, Buck. Enjoy the fresh air, it’s gonna be nice out today.”

He didn’t need to be told twice. He spent the next few hours riding along the winding roads surrounding the compound, letting the wind rush past him, drowning out the noise in his head. It felt good to be alone with nothing but the hum of the engine and the open road.

Birthdays had never been a big thing for him. When he was a younger kid, he vaguely remembered handmade gifts from his ma, a sewn stuffed animal or some candies. During the depression, his sisters would fix missing buttons from his shirts and holes in his pants. After he was shipped out to war, other guys would spare bits of rations. The Howlies would throw together a cake using whatever ingredients they could scrape together. The first birthday he’d spent with Steve after coming back from Wakanda was weird.

Steve had insisted on going all out for some reason, when all Bucky had wanted to do was have dinner together. He’d gathered the team and ordered food, turning what he wanted to be a quiet night into a raging party. Needless to say, Bucky wasn’t thrilled.

He took his time making his way back to the compound, stopping to grab a late lunch at a diner off the highway. The burger and fries were fine, but the chocolate milkshake he’d treated himself to was phenomenal.

By the time he pulled back into the compound’s garage, he felt lighter than he had in a while.

And then his phone buzzed.

Leo (5:49pm): hey can you talk? at my place? if you’re not busy.

He stopped walking, frozen in place as he reread the text. He had no idea why, but the first thought that came to mind was that something was wrong.

Dragging a hand through his hair, he typed out a quick reply.

Bucky (5:52pm): Sure. Be right over.

The entire walk to Leo’s, he worked himself up, preparing for some kind of bad news. No one ever just invited someone over to talk if it wasn’t gonna ruin their day.

When he got to her door and knocked, he heard her voice calling out for him to come in. He stepped into her space, the scent of something sweet and warm filled the air. His brows furrowed as he spotted her standing in the kitchen, lighting a single candle on a small cake sitting on the counter.

Leo turned at the sound of him entering, her face breaking into a grin.

“Happy birthday, Bucky.”

He blinked, his mind taking an extra second to catch up.

“You… baked me a cake?”

“I followed a recipe and prayed I didn’t burn the compound down, but yeah. I made you a cake.” She picked it up, holding it out between them. “Don’t worry, I won’t sing. But you still have to make a wish.”

Bucky hesitated, his throat tight, eyes burning. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had made him a birthday cake.

“Go on,” she prompted softly, nodding toward the flickering flame.

His chest ached in a way he wasn’t prepared for, but he swallowed down whatever words were trying to claw their way up his throat. Instead, he held her gaze for a moment and made his wish before taking a slow breath and blowing out the candle.

Leo smiled as she set the cake down on the counter, plucking the candle out and setting it aside.

“Alright. Cake or presents first?”

He shook his head, still thrown by what was going on. “You got me a present?”

“Of course I did,” she rolled her eyes, disappearing for a second before she returned with a small, neatly wrapped box. “Here. Open it.”

He took it from her carefully, undoing the wrapping with far more patience than he usually had, not wanting to destroy the paper any more than he needed to. Inside, nestled in tissue paper, was a framed certificate, and a small star chart.

“I, uh… I named a star after you.” Leo bit her lip, and Bucky could feel her eyes on him as he looked down at the frame. “I know it’s kind of cheesy… How can you buy the rights to name a star, but you said stars are good company… so now there’s one out there with your name on it.”

Bucky stared at the certificate, his chest tightening as he read the coordinates and the name printed beneath them. He swallowed hard, his thumb brushing over the lettering.

“Leo…” His voice came out rougher than expected. He looked up at her, overwhelmed completely. “I– this is…”

She gave him a small smile. “You don’t have to say anything. Just figured… it’d be nice to have something out there that’s yours. Something to look for, when you’re up late. I think there’s a telescope around here somewhere, maybe we could try and find it?”

He didn’t even know what to say. He couldn’t say anything. He shook his head with a soft huff, then cleared his throat, trying to rid himself of the thick emotion that had built up in his chest.

“You’re somethin’ else, you know that?”

“I try,” Leo grinned, “Now, let’s dig into this cake and find out if I actually suck at baking or not.”

Bucky huffed out a quiet laugh, setting the framed certificate carefully on the counter before turning his attention back to her. “You really didn’t have to do all this.”

Leo arched a brow. “Too bad. I wanted to.”

Something about the way she said it— so matter-of-fact, so effortlessly kind —made his throat tighten all over again. He wasn’t used to this. Not really. People making an effort just for him, with no expectation in return.

“Alright,” she clapped her hands together, breaking the moment before it could settle too deep as she handed him a knife and two plates. “Moment of truth. You wanna do the honors?”

Bucky eyed the cake, then smirked. “If I cut into this and it’s burnt to hell, am I still supposed to pretend it’s good?”

Leo gasped, clutching her chest dramatically. “Have a little faith, Bucky!”

He shook his head but played along, carefully slicing two pieces and passing her one before taking a bite of his own. The cake was soft, a little denser than the store-bought stuff, but sweet and rich. He chewed, swallowed, and gave her a slow nod.

“Not bad,” he said, licking a bit of frosting off his thumb.

“Not bad?” she repeated, clearly unimpressed with the lukewarm response.

Bucky’s lips twitched. “Alright, it’s good.”

Leo narrowed her eyes at him before taking a bite of her own. She chewed thoughtfully, then shrugged. “Yeah, okay. Not bad.”

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the soft clinking of forks against plates the only sound between them.

After a moment, Leo glanced at him. “So… did you actually make a wish?”

Bucky hesitated, his fingers tightening slightly around his fork.

“Yeah,” he said finally.

Leo tilted her head, studying him. “Are you gonna tell me what it was?”

He smirked faintly. “Then it won’t come true.”

She rolled her eyes, bumping her shoulder against his. “Fine. Keep your secrets, Barnes.”

For a long moment, he just looked at her, the warmth of her presence settling something deep inside him. He didn’t know how to say it, not yet, but he had a feeling his wish had already started coming true.

Chapter Text

The night before their trip, Leo found herself staring at the empty suitcase on her bed and the mountain of clothes spilling out of her closet and strewn across her bed. The girls hadn’t been any help, all of them already in San Diego and apparently too busy to answer her messages. With a sigh, she grabbed her phone and texted Bucky.

Leo (7:42pm): SOS. Packing crisis. Need an Avenger. Come save me?

Bucky (7:45pm): Help is on the way. 🫡 Be there soon.

Leo (7:46pm): my hero 🤩

True to his word, Bucky showed up at her door with a bottle of wine and a focused look on his face.

“Alright, what’s the situation?”

“Behold, chaos,” Leo stepped aside to let him in, dramatically gesturing toward her bedroom.

Bucky followed her in and burst out laughing.

“You realize we’re only going for a few days, right? Not moving cross-country?”

“I like options!” she protested, crossing her arms. “What if the weather changes? What if I spill something? What if–”

He held up a hand, cutting her off with a teasing grin. “What if you just bring what you actually need?”

Leo stuck her tongue out at him and grabbed the wine, a red blend she’d never heard of, disappearing to the kitchen. She returned with two full glasses, the bottle tucked under her arm. She handed him a glass, then set the bottle on her bedside table.

“Fine, Mister Minimalist. Let’s see what you think I should bring,” she told him, touching her glass to his in a cheers.

Bucky sat on the edge of her bed, and Leo pulled out outfit after outfit, holding them up for his approval. He shot down at least half of them with exaggerated horror.

“Seriously, Leo? Three pairs of heels? Feels a little excessive.”

“They match different outfits!” she argued, tossing one pair onto the growing pile of rejects.

“Uh-huh. And what’s this?” He held up a sequined jacket with raised eyebrows.

“It’s cute!”

“For Vegas, maybe,” he shot back, shaking his head with a chuckle as he added it to the reject pile.

Despite his relentless teasing, Bucky made the whole process fun. He sipped his wine and played DJ from his phone, queuing up a mix of classic rock he’d been working his way through, while Leo hummed along as she sorted through her wardrobe.

As time ticked by, the suitcase finally began to fill up, albeit with far fewer items than Leo had originally planned.

“You’re ruthless,” she said, sitting cross legged on the bed beside him.

“Efficient,” he corrected, leaning back on his hands and giving her a lopsided grin. “You’ll thank me when you’re not lugging around an oversized suitcase.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled, nudging his knee with her foot.

“Fine, you win this time, Barnes.”

They fell into easy conversation, the music playing softly in the background as they talked about everything and nothing. At one point, Leo pulled out an old Polaroid camera from her closet, snapping a quick picture of Bucky mid-sentence while he talked about how much he loved the book he was currently reading.

“Hey!” he protested, but he was laughing, his expression relaxed in a way that made her chest feel warm.

“Perfect,” she said, watching the photo slowly begin to develop. “I’m keeping this.”

“You’re lucky I like you,” he said as he shook his head and grabbed the bottle, refilling their glasses.

Leo blushed, but she didn’t look away, as much as she wanted to. Instead, she leaned back against the bed frame, her eyes on Bucky as he swirled his glass with his vibranium hand.

“You’re a good friend, you know that?” she asked softly.

His hand stilled, and he glanced up at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

“Oh yeah? That’s not something I hear very often.”

Leo’s heart raced, and she wondered if he could hear it with that super soldier hearing of his. But before she could respond, he smiled and nudged her shoulder.

“Come on, doll. Let’s finish packing before you change your mind and try to sneak that sequin jacket back in.”

She laughed, grateful for the shift, and they returned to the task at hand.

As the night wore on and their laughter echoed in her small apartment, Leo couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them felt… different.

After Bucky was gone, promising that he’d see her in a few hours so they could head to the airport, Leo got ready for bed and tried to sort through her feelings.

She’d put the polaroid in the back of her clear phone case, and a little thrill ran through her every time she looked at it. Bucky’s expression in the picture was so unguarded, caught mid-laugh, eyes crinkled at the corners. It was the kind of genuine joy she didn’t see on him often, but had been appearing more and more frequently.

Leo laid back against her pillows, staring up at the ceiling, phone resting on her chest.

When had this shift between them happened?

It had started subtly, in small, easy moments. The casual check-ins, the inside jokes, the way he always seemed to linger just a little bit longer after they spent time together. The way her heart leapt at the sight of his name lighting up her phone, at the warmth of his hand on the small of her back, at the teasing lilt in his voice when he called her doll or some other pet name.

She’d become comfortable around him. He’d quickly slotted himself into her life and earned a place close to her heart, like he had become her best friend, but lately… There was something else there, something buzzing beneath the surface that she hadn’t wanted to examine too closely because deep down she already knew what it was.

The way he’d looked at her tonight, the way his voice had softened when she told him he was a good friend… it sent her in a downward spiral.

Was he feeling it too?

Leo turned onto her side, frowning slightly.

If he was, what then?

They had a good thing going, spending time together, texting, late night phone calls. It was easy and natural. Did she want to risk that in pursuit of something more?

Her fingers traced the back of her phone case, outlining the Polaroid she could barely see in the darkness of her bedroom. Her heart beat a little faster at the thought of what it would be like to close that space between them, to finally test the tension that had been building between them for weeks.

She wasn’t sure what she wanted just yet, but she knew that this trip was probably going to change everything.

Burying her face in her pillow, Leo let out a groan and tried to get some sleep.

Their morning had started far too early for Leo’s liking, but at least Bucky had shown up with a to-go coffee cup in hand. She hadn’t even been fully awake when she opened the door to find him standing there, looking annoyingly put together for five in the morning.

“You’re a saint,” she had muttered, accepting the drink with a sleepy smile, pleased to find it was a latte.

Bucky had just chuckled.

“Figured you’d need it. You’re not exactly a morning person, sweets.”

She had grumbled something unintelligible even to herself in response, but the coffee helped her wake up enough to finish getting ready. By the time they loaded their bags into the car, the sky was still dark, the highway void of other cars as Bucky drove them to the airport.

The drive had been easy, filled with soft music and occasional conversation as Leo woke up. She had been content to sip on her drink and watch as they returned to civilization, while Bucky hummed along to a song under his breath.

It wasn’t until they got to JFK that things started going downhill.

First, there was a line to drop off her checked bag. People were arguing with the employees at the ticket counter, and Leo could feel her eye twitching. Then, it had taken them an extra few minutes getting through TSA because of Bucky’s arm, but they ultimately let him through after a pretty thorough search. Finally, they made it to the gate just to make sure everything was good before they went to the lounge, only to see DELAYED in bright red above their original departure time.

“What? I didn’t get a notification about this–” Leo groaned, right as her phone vibrated in her jacket pocket. She pulled it out and stared down at the screen.

Delta Airlines Flight #638 has been delayed. New departure time: 11am.

Were they serious? Their flight had been scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. departure, and now it was delayed an hour and a half?

“Is this a joke?” she asked as she stared at the screen at the gate.

Bucky stood beside her, his expression steady as he scrolled through his phone like it was no big deal. He glanced up, taking note of the new time, and hiked his backpack up a little more onto his shoulder.

She sighed, trying her best to hide her agitation as the screen flickered, the new departure time changing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

It changed again almost instantly, and Leo’s eyes widened as she watched it change from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

She was going to scream.

Instead, she threw her frustrations out into the group chat instead of onto Bucky.

[gossip girls]

Leo (8:35am): they keep delaying our flight. I am losing my MIND. delayed 8 hrs now. can you legally spend 8 hours in a lounge?

Eliza (8:36am): they usually cap it at 3, soz.

Cosette (8:36am): why the delay? Weather?

Leo (8:38am): MECHANICAL 😭 and the plane is wherever it’s supposed to be coming from. Detroit I think?

Roxy (8:39am): RIP. See you never I guess.

Eliza (8:42am): this is why we all came yesterday FYI!

Leo (8:43am): and i see you’re all adjusting to the time change well, losers.

Cosette (8:45am): 🤪🤪🤪

Eliza (8:46am): We’re going to yoga. Have fun living at the airport. 🧘‍♀️

“Do you think they’ll actually get us on this flight? Or should we just prepare for this to be our new home?” she sighed, barely containing her annoyance.

Bucky looked up from his phone, giving her a gentle smile.

“They’ll figure it out. These things happen.”

How was he so calm?

Leo took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to mimic his zen demeanor and failing miserably.

“Easy for you to say,” she muttered, “You’re probably used to waiting around.”

He chuckled, slipping his phone into his pocket and turning to her fully.

“If I can survive laying on frozen ground in Siberia staring through a rifle scope at nothing for hours, I think we can handle a delayed flight.” He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “Why don’t we just switch flights?”

Leo blinked, momentarily thrown by how nonchalant he was about it. She hadn’t even considered that as an option. She’d been ready to spend the rest of her life in this terminal.

“Just… switch flights? Like it’s that easy?”

“Sure, despite what you may think, I’ve flown commercial and I’ve dealt with delayed flights before,” Bucky shrugged, already back on his phone, searching for options. “There are a couple that leave before this one’s scheduled to now. Let’s go to customer service.”

When they found the customer service desk a few gates down, she watched in amazement as he strode toward the counter with the same determination she’d seen him use when testing weaponry. She stood beside him as he spoke with the older woman, explaining the situation and maybe flirting a little, and less than ten minutes later, they left the counter with two new boarding passes.

“Take a look. Boards in two hours, and it’s only a few gates away. Phyllis made sure our seats were together, too,” he said as he handed her the pass. “We even have time to hit one of those lounges you’ve talked about.”

Leo felt a bit of her tension melt away, replaced by admiration for the way Bucky handled things so smoothly while she had been nothing but frazzled.

“You are seriously a miracle worker,” she said, shaking her head. “Thank you. Let’s get a move on, we’ve got free drinks waiting for us.”

They made their way over to the closest lounge, which happened to be one of her favorites at the airport, checked in, and settled into a cozy booth.

Leo allowed herself to exhale, feeling the last bits of stress leave her as she scanned the lounge’s menu on her phone. Bucky already had a few plates of finger foods set on the table between them, his contentment clear as he offered her his findings.

“Thought you might need a little something,” he said, nodding toward the selection of bite sized sandwiches and snacks. “Food works wonders for stress, you know?”

She smirked, plucking a tiny sandwich from the plate.

“You don’t say,” she mused. “Let’s get some drinks. I can order some stuff from my phone.”

Leo ordered herself a glass of sparkling wine and a breakfast plate that consisted of bacon, pancakes, and hash browns, while Bucky chose hard boiled eggs, and a parfait. He went up to the bar and got himself a whiskey, then settled back into the booth.

“Hey, now we can relax,” he said as he sat, raising his glass with a playful glint in his eyes. “To a trip that will hopefully be smooth from here on out.”

They clinked glasses, and Leo leaned back, finally starting to enjoy herself.

“I still can’t believe how calm you were back there. If it were up to me, I’d have probably just waited the whole time and cried in the bathroom.”

“That’s why you’ve got me,” he replied, giving her a wink. “I’ve got enough patience for the both of us.”

Their time slipped by as they relaxed, sharing stories and indulging in more free food and drinks than they’d originally planned. The more time they spent together, the more at ease she felt, her usual guarded demeanor dissolving into something light and easy around him. She found herself telling him stories about college, about how she’d gotten stranded in Ibiza on spring break because Cosette booked their ferry back to Barcelona for the wrong day.

“So, you’re telling me that travel issues are common in your friend group?” Bucky asked, raising an eyebrow as he listened to her.

“Oh, absolutely. We’re honestly all pretty useless in one way or another, so I’m glad to have a competent travel companion for once,” she laughed. “I hope you’re ready to meet everyone. They’re gonna want to know everything about you. I’ll try my best to run interference, but don’t be afraid to push back if they get to be too much.”

“Noted,” he said with a grin, taking a sip of his drink. “And here I thought I’d just have to stand around, look nice, and let you handle all the socializing.”

“Mm, something tells me you’ll like the challenge,” she shot back playfully, the three glasses of sparkling wine having loosened her up considerably.

Bucky looked thoughtful, and Leo merely grinned as she moved to get up and grab another drink from the bar.

“Let me get it for you, sweetheart,” Bucky held his hand out, stopping her from moving. “You know I like a challenge.”

He sauntered off, leaving Leo speechless as she stared at his retreating figure.

He was gonna be the death of her, she just knew it.

Chapter Text

The flight itself had been uneventful, a blur of recycled air and the low hum of engines. After meal service and a few cocktails, Leo managed a short, fitful nap, while Bucky, predictably, had remained alert, occasionally glancing over as if to ensure she hadn’t been spirited away mid-flight.

Landing in San Diego, they picked up their checked bags and navigated the bustling terminal to the rental car center. The process was surprisingly quick, thanks to their pre-booking. Bucky handled the paperwork with quiet competence, while Leo, still groggy from her nap, mostly observed. The SUV they’d booked had been given out, but the guy that had been helping them recognized Bucky and gave them an upgraded luxury SUV for no extra charge.

He drove, of course, navigating the unfamiliar freeways with an ease that both surprised and slightly unnerved her. His hands stayed steady on the wheel, eyes flicking from the road to the mirrors with practiced precision. It wasn’t just muscle memory, she noticed. It was habit– instinct. She wondered if he ever truly relaxed, or if vigilance had simply become part of his wiring.

Soon, they were pulling up to the resort. It was sprawling and sun-washed, with Spanish-style architecture gleaming under the late afternoon sun. Lush greenery cascaded over balconies, and the faint scent of salt and something floral hung in the air.

Check-in was smooth, the concierge efficient and welcoming. Armed with two key cards, they followed winding, open-air corridors until they reached room 312.

Bucky swiped a card, the lock clicked, and he pushed the door open, entering first, but holding the door open for Leo to follow. While he looked around the room, moving curtains, checking in the closet, and in the bathroom, Leo took everything in.

The room itself was spacious, decorated in cool blues and sandy beiges that echoed the coastal setting. Two queen sized beds with crisp white linens and decorative pillows dominated the space, separated by a dark wood nightstand. Opposite the beds, a matching dresser held an enormous flat screen TV. To the right, a sliding glass door led out to a small balcony, offering an amazing view of the bay beyond the manicured resort grounds.

Before Leo could even fully take in the layout, Bucky returned from his sweep. With a motion that spoke of long-ingrained habit, he tossed his duffel bag onto the bed closest to the door. No hesitation. No debate. He didn’t say a word– didn’t even look at her. Just claimed his territory.

Leo paused, her backpack still clutched in her hand. She watched him for a beat, then let out a soft breath, shaking her head with a small, almost exasperated smile playing on her lips.

“Of course,” she murmured, more to herself than to him. Predictable– and if she was being honest, a little endearing in that overprotective way of his.

Bucky finally glanced at her, the ghost of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Old habits. Told you I’d want the best vantage point.”

She moved to claim the bed closer to the balcony, the one with the better view. Setting her bag down felt strangely significant, like drawing a line in the sand… or maybe erasing one.

The air in the room suddenly felt thicker. Two nights. One room. The easy camaraderie from earlier still lingered, but now it was layered with something else– a quiet thrum of tension, just beneath the surface. Not uncomfortable, just there.

Leo unzipped her suitcase, pulling out the garment bag that held her dress for the wedding, followed by her clothes for the party tonight. Bucky, already ahead of her as usual, retrieved his suit bag and hung it neatly in the closet. Then he moved into the bathroom and began placing his toiletries on one side of the counter, his motions deliberate. Controlled. Like he was mapping out familiar routines to anchor himself.

He hadn’t said much since the flight, but Leo caught the way his gaze sometimes lingered– on the window, on the door, on her. There was a quiet awareness in him that never quite rested. She wondered if he even noticed it anymore.

“Welcome party starts in… two hours, according to the itinerary,” she said, looking at the paper that had been left along with a goodie bag filled with treats for them. “We should probably start getting ready.”

Bucky nodded, emerging from the bathroom. “You can shower first. I’ll just… make sure everything’s secure out here.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “Secure from what, Bucky? Rogue seagulls looking for a snack?”

A flicker of amusement crossed his face. “Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing I’ve seen.”

She let out a quiet laugh, grabbing her clothes and toiletry bag. “Don’t I know it.”

As she passed him on her way to the bathroom, her shoulder brushed his arm– barely a touch, but enough to make her skin buzz. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, but when she glanced back, he was watching the door again. Like always.

What he didn’t say out loud was clear– I need to know you’re safe.

What she didn’t say back– You don’t always have to be the one keeping watch.

She closed the bathroom door behind her, heart beating a little faster before.

This was going to be a very, very long weekend.

The welcome party was in full swing by the time Bucky and Leo arrived at the beachside restaurant. They’d been escorted out to the patio when they arrived, and Leo was in awe of the entire thing. Strings of lights glowed over tables and in palm trees, casting a golden haze as guests laughed, mingled, and swayed to soft music drifting from the speakers. Leo had already given Bucky a heads-up about what to expect from her friends, though he seemed more amused than concerned.

“They’re gonna try to rattle you,” she’d reminded, half-apologetic, half-amused. “And they’ll probably try to get you drunk. But they don’t know you’re you.”

Bucky had just shrugged, grinning as he adjusted the sleeves of his jacket.

“I’ve survived worse than a few questions and a little booze.”

Leo knew that. Everyone knew that, but that didn’t worry her any less.

But as they approached her friends, Cosette, Roxy, Eliza, and the bride-to-be herself, Charlie, he subtly braced himself.

The group turned to greet them, and Leo’s friends exchanged looks, each wearing an expression that he could only describe as shocked.

“Leo!” Charlie called, breaking from the group to throw her arms around Leo in a quick hug. Then she turned her gaze to Bucky, who lingered just behind Leo, hands tucked in his pockets. “And is this the mystery man? Leo didn’t say anything about bringing a celebrity to my wedding. You couldn’t give us a heads up?”

“Oh, I’m not a—” he cut himself off, thinking better of it. Instead he offered his right hand to Charlie with what he hoped was a warm smile. “Bucky Barnes. It’s great to finally meet you all.”

Cosette, who had dark curls and an expression that seemed perpetually mischievous, nudged Roxy with a grin.

“Real charmer, isn’t he,” she eyed Bucky with open curiosity. “So, Bucky, tell us… What exactly did Leo say to convince you to fly all the way out here? Do you owe her a favor? Many favors?”

Bucky laughed, his hands settling back into his pockets as he answered, “Didn’t take much convincing, actually. I offered, she said yes.”

“Riiight,” Roxy said, eyes narrowed with suspicion. “We’ll get it out of you. We have all weekend.”

Leo rolled her eyes, “Alright, alright, enough. Can we go one night without interrogating someone?”

“No way!” Cosette said, flagging down a waiter with a tray of tequila shots. She handed one to Bucky with a wink. “Besides, it’s even not a real interrogation. Just… a light questioning.”

“Those are the same thing,” Leo grumbled so only Bucky could hear, and he bit back a laugh.

He raised the glass, a playful smile on his face as he clinked it against theirs.

“To the light questioning, then.”

The first round went smoothly. Bucky didn’t even flinch, which seemed to surprise Cosette and Roxy. Eliza, always the more observant one, leaned in, her voice quiet but direct.

“Alright, so tell me, really. How’d you two meet? Leo didn’t give us any details other than you work together,” she said, looking at Leo with mock offense.

Bucky looked over at Leo, and she offered a small nod, letting him take the lead.

“That’s right. We’ve been working on a project together for a while now, and I guess we just… clicked,” he shrugged lightly.

Roxy crossed her arms, clearly ready to dig deeper. Leo fought the urge to order another round of shots.

“Clicked, huh?” Roxy asked, “That’s a little vague. Leo doesn’t usually click with anyone, definitely not this quickly. Not to bring them to a close friend’s wedding. Are you sure there wasn’t a lost bet or an exchange of money? Is this some sort of like charity thing?”

“Are you kidding me? This isn’t Make A Wish,” Leo rolled her eyes again, but Bucky seemed unfazed, smiling like he was almost enjoying himself. He probably was, the bastard.

“Maybe I just like Leo’s company,” he said smoothly, glancing over at Leo, “Hopefully she likes mine.”

Charlie snorted, grinning as she grabbed another shot off a passing tray and pushed it towards Bucky.

“Good answer, but we’re not done yet. You don’t get off that easy, Sergeant Avenger. Another round?”

Bucky smirked, took the glass, and swallowed it without so much as a blink. Roxy watched him with raised brows, clearly impressed, before tilting her head in a more serious question.

“So, Bucky. What’s your favorite thing about Leo?”

“Rox! We literally just got here,” Leo groaned, shooting him a quick, slightly embarrassed look, but Bucky met her gaze with a softness that made her heart skip.

Bucky didn’t hesitate. His smirk softened into something almost fond as he looked at Leo, then back at the expectant faces that were watching him closely.

“Besides her undeniable charm and popstar-like karaoke skills?” he paused, his tone softening slightly. “Probably her laugh. It’s… it’s the best sound I know.”

Cosette raised her glass, her teasing smirk softened into something more genuine, “Alright, that’s… obscenely sweet. And probably the most sincere answer we’ve ever gotten to that question. Remember when that one guy said Eliza had a bangin’ bod? He wasn't wrong, but like what?”

They were quiet for a moment, until Roxy’s curiosity got the better of her.

“Okay but seriously, are you this calm, cool, and collected all the time?” she asked, laughing. “Leo told us the guy she was bringing would be chill, but this is impressive. I was expecting a little more… I don’t know, nerves?”

Bucky shrugged, his smirk returning.

“Nothing really rattles you when your best friend is Captain America.”

This earned a round of laughter, with Leo shaking her head as her friends took turns chiming in with their own questions. Bucky took it all in stride, even as the rounds of drinks continued and people drifted in and out of their conversation, meeting each inquiry with charm and patience.

As the night went on, Bucky learned more about each of them.

Cosette, the wild card with a punchline for everything and a soft spot she pretended didn’t exist.

Roxy, the no-nonsense one who was fiercely protective of her friends.

Eliza, quieter, but sharp as a tack, watching every detail.

And Charlie, warm and always quick with a laugh and another round of shots.

Through their stories, he also found himself learning more about Leo. How she’d helped Charlie through a tough breakup. How she and Cosette had backpacked through Europe on a whim one summer. How she and Roxy had built each other up during their first year out of college, living together in their first real apartment.

Bucky offered to get Leo a cocktail from the bar, to give her a little alone time with her friends, and she eagerly accepted, a small smile on her flushed face as she asked for a cosmo.

He delivered her drink and softly told her that he was gonna take a lap, before he went and got himself a drink and took a minute to just take everything in.

He could still hear Leo, who was now deep in conversation with Cosette, Roxy, and a few others, laughing about some old story they were clearly rehashing, her shoulders relaxed and her smile bright.

Bucky had been watching her from the sidelines, sipping his drink, when he felt her before he saw Charlie, her gaze, steady and unflinching, tracking him as she sidled up beside him.

“Mind if we chat for a minute, Bucky?” she asked, her tone light but unmistakably serious.

“Of course,” he answered, setting down his empty glass and following her out to a quieter part of the patio near the beach. She stopped when they were a good distance away from the group, crossing her arms and looking him up and down with a thoughtful tilt to her head.

“So,” she said, “Let’s cut to it. What are your intentions with Leo?”

Bucky blinked, taken aback by her directness. Her friends had been dancing around it all night, and she was the first one to actually say it to his face.

“My intentions?” he repeated, buying himself a beat to regroup. No one had asked him anything like that in… decades.

Charlie gave him a knowing smile, a hint of amusement flickering in her blue eyes.

“Look, Bucky, I’m not blind. Leo’s like a sister to me, to all of us, and I can tell there’s something going on here that neither of you is owning up to. I’ve known her for years, and I know when she’s hiding something.”

Bucky ran a hand over the back of his neck, glancing over at Leo, who was still laughing with her friends. She was the picture of ease, her face lit up in a way he hadn’t seen before tonight. He’d always known she was beautiful, but seeing her here, surrounded by people who loved her, he could see how being around them made her glow with happiness. It made him want to protect that happiness, even if he wasn’t sure where he fit into it yet.

“You got me,” he admitted, meeting Charlie’s gaze. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together lately as friends.”

Charlie nodded, a small smirk appearing on her face, “But you want to be more, don’t you.”

He hesitated, and that was enough for her to see the answer written on his face.

“It’s complicated,” he said softly. “I… care about her a lot. But with everything that’s happened, with who I am… let’s just say I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to drag her into.”

Charlie gave a gentle shake of her head, a little exasperated but sympathetic.

“Let me give you some advice. Leo’s been through enough to know what she wants, and from what I can see, what she wants is you. You don’t need to protect her from anything, you just need to be honest with her.”

His gaze softened as he took in Charlie’s words. He knew he’d been holding back, not wanting to burden her with his issues. But seeing Leo here, happy and free, he couldn’t deny that tug in his chest, the one that insisted that maybe he could be part of that too. That he wouldn’t be a burden to her.

“You really think she wants… this?” he asked quietly, feeling oddly vulnerable under the scrutiny of her friend that he’d just met a few hours ago. “Me?”

Charlie smiled, a softer, more genuine look than before.

“Oh, trust me. Leo’s one of the closed off people I know, but she’s super easy to read once you learn the language. She’s crazy about you, Bucky. It’s written all over her face.”

He let out a slow breath, glancing back toward Leo, whose gaze had wandered in their direction as if she felt him watching. She caught his eye and smiled, and a familiar warmth spread over him.

“Alright,” he said softly, “I’ll make sure I don’t screw it up.”

“You’d better,” Charlie nudged him lightly, a playful spark in her eye. “Or else you’ll have us to deal with.”

Bucky chuckled, glancing down at her, “I think I can handle that. Thanks, Charlie.”

Leo was laughing at something that had just been said when she noticed the shift in energy around her. Cosette, Roxy, and Eliza were suddenly leaning in, their eyes practically glowing with curiosity as they fixed their attention entirely on her.

Roxy, with her mischievous grin, was the first to speak up.

“So, Leo,” she said, her tone more teasing than serious. “I’ve gotta ask. Why didn’t you tell us you were bringing Bucky Barnes. The actual, like straight out of a history book, Bucky Barnes?”

Leo blinked, taken aback by the sudden change of conversation. She had expected it, just not so soon. Heat rose in her cheeks. “Uh, what do you mean, why?” she asked, uncertain. “He offered to be my plus-one, and I said okay. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”

Eliza, who had been quiet until now, raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

“A big deal? Leo, do you know who you’re talking about?” She motioned vaguely towards Bucky, who was standing with Charlie on the periphery of the party, nearly in the sand, looking slightly uncomfortable as Charlie was clearly firing off a series of questions.

“Yeah, okay. You brought Bucky, who just so happens to have saved the world multiple times, is besties with Captain America, and probably has, like, a thousand medals of honor or something. But sure, just Bucky,” Cosette continued, “You don’t think that casually bringing a literal super soldier to Charlie’s wedding isn’t a big deal?

“We’re just friends,” Leo shrugged, trying to downplay it. She knew her friends were backing her into a corner, trying to get her to admit her feelings, and she wasn’t ready for that. Especially if Bucky didn’t feel the same.

“Come on, Leo. Friends? Friends who show up together, looking all cozy and giving each other those looks. And for the record, if I were you, I’d be shouting this from the rooftops,” Roxy gave her a knowing look.

Leo sighed, shaking her head.

“You guys know I’m not like that. I don’t see him as that larger-than-life person like everyone else does. I see the guy who spent a whole afternoon arguing with a vending machine because it ate his dollar. Spoiler, he won.”

The girls snickered, clearly delighted with the mental image. But they weren’t giving up so easily.

“Still,” Cosette said, her expression softening, “It’s hard for us to wrap our heads around it. I mean, for as long as we’ve all known you, you haven’t exactly let anyone get close. Not even he who shall not be named. And now you’re here with someone who clearly makes you feel something.”

Eliza nodded, “Yeah, you’re usually so closed off, and he’s… he’s the alleged king of emotional constipation if the gossip blogs are to be believed. But from the looks of it, he’s pretty into you, too. So, are you really telling us there’s nothing more to it?”

Leo hesitated, not sure how to explain.

“I mean, he’s… easy to talk to, even when I’m having an awful day. I don’t feel like I have to hide parts of myself around him. He’s easy to be around,” she tried to explain. “We talk a lot. It’s… nice.”

Her friends exchanged glances, then Roxy leaned in closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially, “Leo, babe, he doesn’t look at you like just a friend. Trust us. The way he’s been watching you when you aren’t looking… It’s adoration.”

Leo felt her face heat up, but she forced herself to keep her tone nonchalant.

“I think you’re reading into it a bit too much. He’s just looking out for me, and he wants to impress you all.”

“Maybe,” Roxy said, clearly not convinced. “But you should still think about it. We’re just saying… if something more were to happen, we wouldn’t be surprised. How many beds do you have in your room?”

Leo let out a laugh before she could stop it, trying to wave them off, “You guys are hopeless. We have two beds, thank you very much.”

“Maybe we are, but we’re right, too,” Cosette said, smirking as she raised her glass. “Here’s to finally meeting the man who can actually break through that steel heart of yours.”

They clinked glasses, and as Leo took a sip, she couldn’t help but glance over to where Bucky and Charlie were still talking, a soft smile playing on her lips as she locked eyes with him.

Chapter Text

Leo wasn’t sure how she’d gotten roped into keeping the night going after the welcome party, but here she was… The champagne had been flowing, everyone was buzzing, and before she knew it, Leo found herself being dragged along by Cosette and Nikki, another one of their friends, Bucky trailing behind with his usual mix of amusement and mild exasperation.

Instead of heading to a bar, they crammed into Roxy and Dylan’s suite– one of the bigger ones, complete with a couch, a balcony, and a minibar that was already running low. With Charlie’s blessing, someone had pilfered bottles from the welcome party. “We already paid for the alcohol, someone’s gotta drink it,” she’d told them with a sparkle in her blue eyes. Now they were spread out on the coffee table, along with half-eaten snacks from the gift bags. Music played from a bluetooth speaker, and the entire space pulsed with laughter and tipsy energy.

Bucky had claimed a spot on the couch, his arm resting across the back as he watched the chaos unfold. Leo, sitting beside him, stretching her legs out across the carpet as she took a sip from her drink.

“Bet you didn’t expect to end up babysitting a bunch of drunk idiots tonight,” she teased, tilting her head up to look at him.

Bucky smirked, glancing around the room. Nikki was attempting to teach Roxy and Eliza some kind of dance move, Cosette was dramatically singing into a mini wine bottle that was supposed to be a microphone, and someone– he wasn’t even sure who– had wrapped themselves in a hotel bathrobe and was sprawled across the bed. A few other people he’d met briefly were there, too, but he had already decided to stick close to Leo.

“I dunno,” he said. “I’ve seen worse.”

Leo snorted. “Don’t lie.”

He chuckled, making her rise and fall with his movement, and shook his head. “All right, maybe this is up there.”

She nudged his knee. “Well, thanks for sticking it out. I don’t usually party like this anymore, but tonight? I’ve been having a great time.”

“Yeah?” he asked, voice softer.

“Yeah,” she said, smiling. “Glad you’re here, Buck.”

Before he could respond, Eliza appeared, breathless, pointing at them. “Truth or dare.”

Leo blinked. “What?”

“Truth or dare, c’mon,” Eliza said, already plopping onto the floor. “It’s a wedding weekend. It’s a requirement.”

Groans and laughter filled the room, and before long, someone was downing a drink they definitely didn’t want, someone else was texting an ex on a dare, and Cosette was half-heartedly attempting to prank call the groom.

Bucky watched, equal parts entertained and horrified. “You people are menaces.”

“Menaces who know how to have fun,” Leo corrected, raising her glass.

Cosette’s gaze darted between Leo and Bucky, a wicked grin forming.

“Leo. Dare.”

“I don’t even get a choice?” she asked with a huff, and Cose shook her head, her smile widening as her eyes roamed the room before locking in on the minibar.

“I dare you… to take a body shot.”

Leo coughed, nearly choking on her drink. “Are you serious? How old are we?”

“Very serious,” Cosette wiggled her eyebrows, “And obviously, you need a willing participant.”

“Oh my God,” Leo muttered under her breath, already feeling the warmth creep into her cheeks, and it wasn’t from the drinks.

“I’ll do it,” Roxy volunteered with a giggle.

“Oh, absolutely not,” Leo said, her voice firm but amused.

The room erupted into laughter, and Eliza gasped, like an idea had just suddenly come to her.

“Wait, Bucky should be the one to take the shot off of Leo.”

Leo turned to Bucky, finding him already looking at her with raised eyebrows, clearly waiting to see how she’d react. She hesitated, not because she didn’t want to– she definitely wanted to– but because the idea of him getting that close, in front of everyone, made her stomach flip.

“You scared, Barnes?” Cosette teased, eyes glittering like she knew exactly what she was doing.

He looked at Leo again, and she knew he was waiting for her approval, so she gave him the tiniest of nods, and he exhaled a slow breath, rolling his left shoulder like he was preparing for battle.

“Fine. But someone’s gotta walk me through this. I’ve never done one of these before.”

A mix of cheers and laughter followed, and before Leo could fully process it, Cosette was already setting it up– salt, lime, and tequila in hand.

Leo leaned back against the couch cushions, her heart hammering, the room suddenly too loud, too bright. Cose handed her the lime wedge and winked. “You know where this goes.”

Leo shot her a look but slipped the wedge between her lips, her gaze flicking to Bucky. His blue eyes were locked on her, his jaw tight like he was still debating if this was a terrible idea. It was. God, it was.

Cosette tapped the salt shaker that had come with Roxy’s room service earlier against Leo’s collarbone, right at the dip beneath her throat. She shivered slightly at the sensation, but kept her eyes on Bucky, who was on his knees in front of her.

She wished they didn’t have such a big audience for this.

“All right, soldier,” Roxy said, handing him the shot. “You know what to do.”

Bucky sighed, shaking his head. Then with one hand braced beside her on the couch, he dipped down.

Leo barely had time to react before she felt the warmth of his mouth against her skin, his tongue brushing the salt from her collarbone. Her breath hitched, her fingers digging into the fabric of her pants as he pulled back slightly, his gaze flicking to hers before tipping back the shot like it was nothing. He leaned back in, slower this time, to take the lime from her mouth.

The second their lips brushed, her heart stopped, and the entire room exploded.

Cheers, whistles, laughter– it all blurred together as Bucky pulled back and sucked on the lime, pulling it away from his mouth, his tongue swiping across his bottom lip like he was memorizing the taste.

Leo, still frozen in place, could only stare up at him, her entire body on fire.

“That was… something,” Cosette said, fanning herself dramatically with a copy of the weekend’s itinerary.

“Oh, it was everything,” Eliza agreed.

Leo glanced at Bucky, who was watching her with that unreadable expression again. But when their eyes met, his lips curled slightly, just enough for her to see the amusement– and maybe something else– lingering there.

The energy in the room was still crackling after the dare, everyone laughing and riding the high of the moment, someone saying that they’d share the video to the group chat, but only to people who were in the room right now. Leo was still feeling very warm, not just from the whole body shot thing, but from the way Bucky looked at her afterward, like something had ignited in him.

Cosette was still cackling as she pointed at them. “This was so much better than I expected. Should’ve had him take the actual shot off of you, though.”

“Yeah yeah, had to go easy on him for his first time,” Leo waved her off, reaching for her drink. “Karma is a bitch, so buckle up.”

The game continued, each round getting wilder. Someone ended up calling room service and ordering something insane, another person had to send a Venmo request to their ex, which was honestly too easy for them, and Roxy got dared to shotgun a beer, which she did with impressive efficiency.

But Leo? She was hyper aware of Bucky.

He stayed close to her pretty much the whole time, sitting beside her on the couch, his arm resting along the back of it like they’d been sitting earlier, his fingers occasionally brushing against her shoulder. She could still feel the ghost of his mouth on her skin from earlier, and it was making it very hard to focus.

At some point, Dylan called for a toast.

“To the wedding weekend,” he declared, raising his beer.

“To bad decisions!” Roxy added with a grin.

“To making sure Bucky has fun,” Cosette teased, nudging him with her foot.

Bucky sighed, shaking his head but clinking his glass with the rest of them. “You’re all relentless.”

“You love it,” Leo murmured, looking at him over the rim of her glass.

His lips twitched. “I don’t hate it.”

The night blurred in the best way after that. At some point, someone found a deck of cards, and suddenly, they were deep into a chaotic game of King’s Cup. Leo was laughing so hard her stomach hurt, watching Bucky get roped into a rule where he had to meow before speaking, and shockingly, he went along with it.

But eventually the drinks, the laughter, the long day– it all started to catch up with them.

Leo blinked sleepily, her head tipping against Bucky’s shoulder. She barely noticed when the game had slowed down, people shifting positions, some stretching out across the floor, some filtering out.

“All right, you party animals,” Bucky’s voice rumbled against her temple. “Time to call it.”

A chorus of groans followed, but no one fought him too hard.

Bucky nudged Leo gently. “Come on, doll. Let’s get you to bed.”

Leo hummed, her body feeling warm and loose as she slowly sat up. “M’not that tired.”

Bucky just gave her a look. “Uh-huh. You were five seconds from drooling on my shoulder.”

“Bet you would’ve liked that.” Her voice was thick with sleep, a lazy smirk tugging at her lips.

“I would not.”

“Would too.”

Bucky sighed dramatically, but he smiled. “Let’s go, trouble. Gonna make sure the rest of the girls get to bed, too.”

He helped her to her feet, steadying her when she wobbled slightly. His hand stayed warm and firm against her lower back as he gathered Cosette, Nikki, and Eliza, saying goodnight to Roxy and Dylan, and ignoring Cosette’s muttered, “Just kiss already,” as he steered the four girls toward the door.

The hall was quieter, the only sounds were their footsteps and Leo’s soft hum of contentment.

And Cosette’s complaining. She was big on complaining.

They stopped at Eliza’s room first, bidding her goodnight as the sleepy girl slipped through her door without a backward glance. Leo laughed, saying she was a zombie when she was tired and drunk. Nikki’s room was next door, and flounced off to bed with a spring in her step, a giggled “Thanks, Mom and Dad!” as she closed the door behind her.

Getting Cosette to go into her room was harder. She tried to get them to come in for a nightcap, calling Bucky grandpa when he declined firmly.

“You’re no fun,” she huffed as she stumbled into her room, “This is how you treat me after I did you a solid with Leo? Abhorrent.”

“Night, Cose,” he laughed as she shut the door in his face, impressed with how expansive her vocabulary was when she was wasted.

Now he just had Leo to worry about.

She’d been a trooper, sticking to his side as he dropped off each girl, mumbling her goodnights to them and promising them that she loved them dearly.

It was adorable, to say the very least.

“This’ll go a lot faster if I pick ya up, okay, sweets?” he asked, and Leo nodded as best she could with her head against his shoulder.

He carefully lifted her up, one hand beneath her knees and the other around her back, then carried her toward the elevator and up to their room. Bucky easily unlocked the door and set her down, immediately regretting it when Leo tried to kick off her shoes and nearly toppled over before he stopped her, gently guiding her to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Let’s get you comfortable, yeah?” he murmured softly, kneeling down to unbuckle the straps of her heels with precision.

Leo gave him a sleepy smile, a softness in her eyes that caught him off guard.

“You’re way too nice to me,” she mumbled, her fingers curling lightly at his shoulders as he carefully pulled off her shoes and set them aside. Her voice was soft, like she couldn’t quite believe it.

“Just lookin’ out for you,” he replied, brushing a strand of loose hair out of her face. “Couldn’t let ya go tumblin’ around now, could I?”

She giggled, a sound that was both new and endearing to him.

“Guess not.” Her words were growing slower with each passing second. “You know… You’re pretty great, Bucky. Just… thought you should know.”

Bucky’s chest tightened at the soft honesty in her voice, but he simply smiled, offering to help her take her makeup off and get ready for bed.

“Mm, that would be nice. You know how to use micellar water?”

He’d never heard the word micellar before in his long, long life, but he was sure he could figure it out.

“Why don’t you talk me through it, huh? I’m sure we can get it done between the two of us. Stay here, I’ll go into the bathroom, and just tell me what I need to grab.”

Bucky used his time in the bathroom to change into his sleep clothes and he returned with the items she’d asked for only to find that she’d somehow managed to take off her shirt and slip on the t-shirt he’d left on the bed earlier. She was still wearing her silky dress pants, and he couldn’t help but think that the combination was perfect on her. He liked seeing her in his shirt.

“Can you help me take off my pants?” she asked quietly, and if he hadn’t had enhanced hearing, he wasn’t sure if he would’ve heard it. “There’s a button and a hook thing, it’s so much work.”

“Of course. Do you want shorts to change into?”

She pointed to her suitcase and he carefully went through it, avoiding eye contact with the black, lacy fabric he spotted and finding a pair of shorts with pink hearts all over them instead.

Bucky knelt in front of her, letting her set her hands on his shoulders again to stay upright, and he took a deep breath before he lifted the hem of his shirt she was wearing and undid the hook, then found the smaller button and undid that too. He pulled the zipper down, then carefully pulled her towards him, standing her up so he could tug down the soft material of her pants.

He made sure not to look as he quickly replaced them with the shorts, and once he was done, he turned his attention back to the makeup remover.

“Let’s get that stuff off your face, huh?”

“Don’t wanna, worked so hard on it,” she grumbled, leaning forward so her forehead rested against his shoulder, and Bucky had to hold back a laugh.

“Yeah you did,” he acknowledged, remembering how he watched her apply her eyeliner with impressive precision earlier in the evening when they were getting ready. “C’mon, be a good girl for me. I promise you’ll be glad you did it in the morning… Do it for future Leo.”

Negotiating with the drunk girl he had feelings for was doing something to him, and he couldn’t help but run his fingers through her hair, pulling gently at the back of her head so she would look at him.

“I know ya don’t want to wake up lookin’ like a raccoon. I won’t take long, I promise.”

“What do I get out of it?” she asked curiously, and he tried to ignore the tingles that her question sent through him.

“What do you want?”

He knew he was playing a dangerous game, but he couldn’t help himself.

“Mm, I know what I want,” she hummed, “But I don’t know if you want the same thing.”

“Leo–” he started, but she shook her head.

“Just… Sit still,” she muttered, sounding sleepy but determined. Her eyes closed briefly as she leaned forward again, but his hand in her hair kept her sitting up, his blunt nails scratching the back of her head soothingly.

Bucky felt his heartbeat stutter, and he steadied his voice as best he could.

“We can talk about that later,” he whispered. “Right now, let’s get you ready for bed. Deal?”

Leo groaned playfully, nodding with a huff, “Fine. For future Leo.”

With the micellar water-soaked cotton pad in hand, he gently swiped it across her cheek, the soft brush of it calming her so that her eyes fluttered closed as he worked. Her cheeks were warm from the alcohol, and he couldn’t help but notice how her face relaxed under his touch.

“You’re really good at this, you know,” she mumbled. “Like… strangely good.”

“It’s just a wipe, Leo. Not rocket science,” he laughed it off, trying not to let their close proximity get to him.

“I bet you’d be good at rocket science,” she said, a trace of amusement still lingering in her tired voice.

He shook his head, dabbing carefully around her eyes to wipe away the last smudges of eyeliner before he gently applied her face cream and rubbed it in so it would absorb into her already soft skin.

“Good as new,” he murmured, and she gave a small hum of appreciation, already half asleep now.

Bucky settled her under the covers and against the pillows, tucking her in and making sure she was comfortable before moving to sit on the edge of the bed.

He thought she was asleep until she whispered, “Thanks, Buck… For taking care of me and all that.”

“Anytime, Leo,” he brushed a hand gently over her hair. “Get some sleep. I’ll be right here if you need me.”

He turned off the bedside lamp and rose to head to the chair by the window, but she reached out, catching his vibranium wrist with a surprisingly firm grip.

“Stay?”

Bucky hesitated, his heart stuttering for a second. He’d already been planning to sleep on the floor and wake up before her to mess up the sheets of the second bed so she didn’t know, but now… Her hand remained wrapped around his wrist, and for a second he was sure she would let go, thinking better of it. But she didn’t, her fingers squeezing gently, the pressure registering in his brain like it would if it was his other arm. He waited another few beats, but she gave him a little tug and he gave in.

“Yeah, of course,” he whispered, finally letting himself smile as he slipped into bed beside her. He’d stay until she was asleep, then he’d make his little nest on the floor.

Leo hummed in approval, already nestling into his side, her head resting against his chest.

“You’re warm,” she mumbled sleepily.

Bucky let out a low chuckle, his fingers brushing over her arm absentmindedly. “Glad I could be of service.”

Her breathing slowed, her body relaxing against him. Bucky stared at the ceiling, willing his own heartbeat to calm down, but with the way Leo fit against him, soft and trusting and completely at ease, it was a losing battle.

He was in big trouble.

Chapter Text

Bucky woke up slowly for once, blinking a few times as he took in his surroundings. His vision was mostly blocked by dark hair, so he leaned back a little to see that he’d had his face buried in Leo’s neck. It hit him all at once that he was curled around her, his chest pressed against her back, their legs tangled together beneath the sheets. He was so close he could feel the warmth radiating from her.

He didn’t even remember moving in his sleep.

When he started to disentangle himself, he felt a tug on his vibranium arm, and that’s when he realized that she was holding onto his hand, her fingers loosely curled around his metal ones. Bucky stilled, feeling a strange mix of warmth and hesitation. He knew he should let go, get up, and start the day, but he wanted nothing more than to let himself linger just a little bit longer, to bask in the closeness.

It took a little work, but he gently eased himself out of her grasp, sliding his arm free without waking her. She murmured something in her sleep, her fingers curling against the sheets, and Bucky bit back a smile as he slipped out of bed and into the bathroom to change into running clothes. His mind was spinning and he needed to clear his head before he did something reckless, like crawl back into bed with Leo and wrap himself around her again.

The resort had some winding paths that led down to the beach, so he followed them aimlessly, enjoying the cool, early morning air against his skin. He set off at a brisk pace, and stopped once he’d reached a boardwalk five miles later, pausing to take it in. He sat on the retaining wall separating the sand from concrete, staring out into the waves as they ebbed and flowed with the tide. It was still early, so there weren’t that many people out yet, and he could just sit with his thoughts without distraction.

He took a deep breath, letting the salty air fill his lungs, and tried to work out the feelings that he’d been trying to shove down.

He was… having a good time. He liked being here, with Leo, like he was just a normal part of her life and she was part of his. No missions, no expectations, just them, moving through her world, and somehow it felt effortless. He knew that they worked well together at the compound, but he hadn’t really expected it to translate so seamlessly into everything else.

It was dangerous for him to think that this could feel so right. Not when he didn’t deserve it.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and Bucky knew it was a check in text from Steve before he even took the device out.

Steve (5:13am): How are things going?

Bucky rolled his eyes. Even from across the country Stevie was trying to mother him.

Fine, he texted back, not wanting to type out that he’d slept in a bed for the first time in months last night.

He got a moving picture, a gif, back from Steve, of some woman rolling her eyes and saying “okay”, but that was it. Bucky shoved his phone back into his pocket and sighed, knowing he’d get an earful once he was back at the compound.

When he finally made his way back to the resort, Bucky headed for the coffee shop off of the lobby. Even though caffeine didn’t do anything for him anymore, having a cup was more of a habit than anything, really. As he waited in line, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

“Bucky, right? Thought that was you.”

Bucky turned to find Eric, Charlie’s fiancé, grinning at him. They’d met briefly at the welcome party last night, and Eric had been pretty friendly. Not that he was surprised. Every one of Leo’s friends had been warm towards him. Eric was tall, with sandy blond hair and an ease about him that made Bucky feel like he didn’t have to have his guard up.

“Hey Eric,” Bucky greeted, offering a handshake. “Good to see you.”

“Likewise,” Eric replied, giving him a once-over with a raised eyebrow. “Didn’t think you’d be up this early after last night. Leo and the girls put you through the wringer?”

“It was… an experience, that’s for sure. Just glad I could wrangle them all to their rooms after their little after party,” Bucky laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Never played drinking games like that before, they all got pretty wild.”

Eric shook his head knowingly, and Bucky figured he’d been in his position more than a few times.

“Those girls, man. They’re a force of nature. Charlie warned me before I met them, said I’d either love ‘em or I’d run the other way. Looks like you handled them just fine, though?”

“They’re a good group,” Bucky admitted, feeling a sense of ease settle over him. “And Leo’s lucky to have friends like that.”

Eric tilted his head, and Bucky could tell that he was studying him. It felt different from when Hydra watched him. From when Steve watched him. This wasn’t to make sure he was complying, or that he was himself. This was something else entirely, but it wasn’t unnerving or frustrating.

“She is,” he finally nodded, apparently finding whatever he was looking for. “They’ve all been through a lot together. Char told me a bit about how you and Leo know each other… Sounds like she’s lucky to have you around, too. They worry about her, being up at the compound full time.”

Bucky gave a small smile, glancing down at the floor for a second or two, “I don’t know about that. But I’m glad to be here for her.”

Eric clapped him on the shoulder, and Bucky was shocked that he didn’t startle, and then they ordered and moved off to the side to wait for their drinks to be made. To his surprise, Eric had offered to pay and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Look, man, I know this weekend’s a whirlwind with all of them around getting up to their ridiculous antics, and I’m sure you’ve been getting the third degree from all of them. I got my own version of the Spanish Inquisition too, but if you’re willing to stick it out and you are about Leo, you’ve got my respect. Not that it really matters, since you know… You’re you,” Eric shrugged with a laugh. “I don’t really think my opinion is worth much when you have Captain America’s approval.”

“I appreciate it regardless,” he said, feeling a small swell of pride. “I’m just along for the ride, as long as Leo wants me around.”

Eric smiled, nodding in understanding, “She’s a tough one to crack, but I think you’ve managed to get through that, especially if she brought you here. Who knows, maybe in a few years we’ll all be descending upon some poor, unsuspecting resort for your wedding.”

At that, Bucky felt a strange pang in his chest– a mix of longing and realization. Maybe that’s what he wanted? Something with Leo that was… more.

Their orders were called, and Eric apologized as they grabbed their drinks, saying that he had to go get his groomsmen up so they could start getting ready, and Bucky nodded, wishing him luck and then watching him head out.

Bucky looked down at his cup, then at the menu, and got back in line to order something for Leo before going back to the room.

“Mornin’ sunshine. Picked this up for you when I was out on my run,” Bucky greeted as he let himself into the room, a smile on his face as he held onto a clear plastic cup with a familiar green liquid in it. “Oat milk is okay, right? There were a lot of options and I wasn’t sure…”

Leo peered up at him from her designated makeup station at the desk, her heart skipping a beat when she realized what was going on.

“Is that a matcha latte?”

“Yeah, I thought.. is that not what you like?” He looked at the drink, then at her, then back at the drink, shaking it twice. “I’ve seen you drink green things before, so I asked the barista…”

She watched hesitation consume him, from the look on his face to the way he stood before her, and she quickly shook her head, “No, that’s perfect! That’s actually my order, so thank you. I appreciate it.”

He’d been doing this all weekend– anticipating her needs or wants before she even knew what she wanted. He could read her so well that he was steps ahead of her, ready with whatever she needed.

“What’s on the itinerary for today? The wedding’s not til 4, so we have a lot of free time,” Bucky said as he handed her the cup and sat on the plush chair in the corner of the room with his own drink.

“Mm, it’s a beautiful day. Maybe something outside?” she fought back a yawn.

Bucky laughed, “You sure you don’t want to sleep a little more? We were up pretty late last night.”

“Don’t remind me,” Leo groaned, burying her face in her free hand. “I don’t even remember what I drank in Roxy’s room. And don’t tell me.”

She peeked through her fingers and saw him shake his head, holding up three fingers on his right hand.

“Scouts honor, I won’t tell you a thing about what you got up to last night.”

The smirk on his face made her stomach lurch. Had she done something embarrassing?

Oh no.

“Ugh, well now I’m gonna think I did something insane.”

“You didn’t do anything, pretty girl,” he told her honestly, “Cose is the one who tried to flash half the resort from the balcony. You were a saint in comparison– just let me lick salt off ya for a body shot.”

Leo let out a laugh, ignoring the way the nickname made her heart pound faster, grabbing her phone and opening up the group chat to find a video of Cosette on the balcony, her back to the camera, with her top pulled up as she leaned over the railing. Bucky was trying to wrangle her back into the room while trying not to get an eyeful, and it took him a surprisingly long time to get her inside.

“Oh my god? She’s such a demon, this doesn’t surprise me at all. You’re a real hero for trying to rein her in, I’m sure she appreciates you protecting her modesty now that she’s not drunk. I bet they’re all hungover and dead, so I won’t even bother texting to see if they’re up yet.” Her stomach grumbled, and she lit up at the realization that it was breakfast time. “Hey, you wanna go to my favorite breakfast burrito spot? I honestly think about it all the time, and I think you’ll like it.”

“That sounds great. Give me ten minutes to shower and change?” Bucky asked, gesturing to his workout clothes, and Leo nodded, waving him off towards the bathroom.

While Bucky drove along the coastline, Leo split her attention between watching him and keeping up with the group chat, which had apparently lit up as soon as everyone was awake.

[gossip girls]

Cosette (9:52am): WHAT IS THAT VIDEO?????
Cosette (9:52am): WHAT DID I DO LAST NIGHT???

Eliza (9:53am): lmao you really wanted everyone to see your nips. You were on a MISSION. Bucky had to wrestle you back into the room like a crocodile. very Steve Irwin of him, tbh.

Roxy (9:55am): speaking of buckaroo.

Roxy attached 5 photos
Roxy attached 1 video

Cosette (9:57am): omg H O T. LEO PLS KEEP HIM.

Leo swiped through the photos, all stealthy shots that had been taken at the welcome party and Roxy’s suite after, of her and Bucky cozied up together. The video’s thumbnail was her on the couch with Bucky knelt in front of her, about to do the body shot, and she quickly scrolled past it, deciding she’d watch that later.

She had to admit, the photos themselves were great, and they looked really good together.

[gossip girls]

Eliza (9:57am): that man is SO into you, leo.

Cosette emphasized “that man is SO into you, leo.”

Roxy: (9:58): can’t believe he’s never done a body shot before. He’s a billion years old.

Cosette (9:58am): did you guys fuck off somewhere without us? Was hoping to ask if he could set me up with one of his avenger friends.

Leo (10:00am): we’re going to breakfast. If I won’t set you up with an avenger, what makes you think he would?

Cosette (10:01am): he has their phone numbers. I don’t think YOU have the falcons number.
Cosette (10:01am): …. DO YOU?

Leo (10:02am): 👀

Cosette disliked “👀”

“What are the girls saying?” Bucky asked, glancing over at Leo before turning his attention back to the road, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

“They’re talking about you, of course. You made a good impression on them last night, they want me to keep you,” she answered honestly.

She watched as he smirked, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he kept his focus on the road.

“So I passed the test, huh? That’s good to know.”

“I’d say you more than passed,” Leo laughed, feeling a little flush creeping up into her cheeks. “They’re already plotting which Avenger they can sweet talk you into introducing them to.”

He chuckled, shaking his head, “I have a feeling that’s gonna be coming from Cose.”

Leo wasn’t surprised that he’d pegged her at all– he was observant to a fault, she knew that. But it still tickled her to know that he had noticed these small details about her friends.

“She’s dying to get Sam’s number,” she laughed as she scrolled back through the group chat, “She’s been trying to get it from me for ever, but I just play dumb and say I don’t know him.”

That got a genuine, big laugh from Bucky.

“I’ll float the idea next time I see him. I feel like their energies match up. She’s relentless, isn’t she?”

“You don’t know the half of it,” she said, her smile softening as she looked at him.

A surprising warmth settled in her chest as she watched him drive. It wasn’t just that Bucky had passed the friend test or whatever hazing her friends were putting him through. It was how naturally he’d slipped into her life, like he’d always belonged there. It made her heart clench, and she couldn’t help but hope that this was real, and not just a byproduct of going to a wedding together.

As they pulled up to the small, unassuming building, Bucky parked and Leo unbuckled her seatbelt, glancing over at him, suddenly aware of how comfortable it felt to be with him like this. They got out of the car, and as they walked toward the entrance, her excitement grew. She’d brought a lot of friends here over the years, but somehow, it felt different sharing it with him.

The restaurant was tiny, a hole in the wall that she’d heard about from a friend years ago, and she’d gone all the time in college. The owners knew her, and had named her favorite menu item after her when she graduated.

Rita, one of the owners, greeted them from behind the counter as they walked in, her smile widening when she saw just who came through the door. Leo felt Bucky tense up beside her, and she wondered if he thought that he was being recognized. So she quickly took his hand and squeezed gently, reassuring him that everything was okay.

“My leona!” Rita beamed, “What brings you back to town?”

Leo couldn’t help but grin, feeling her face flush at the attention, “Hi Rita. Here for a wedding. Charlie’s getting married!”

Bucky loosened up a little, and Leo felt relief wash over her.

“Oh, to that poor boy that followed her around all throughout college?” Rita shook her head, “He has his work cut out for him.”

She heard a huff of laughter escape Bucky, and Leo glanced up to see him holding back a big smile.

“Yeah, Eric’s in it for the long haul,” Leo reported, letting Bucky look over the menu as she caught up with Rita, leading the conversation with questions about the restaurant and her family.

When Rita asked if he was ready to order, Leo felt his eyes on her, so she looked up to see a curious gleam in his eyes.

“Which one’s named after you?” he asked, but quickly changed his question. “Wait. Can I guess?”

Leo watched as he scanned the menu one more time, then he looked back to her, and winked. He fucking winked.

“Yours is the Lioness,” he said like it was obvious, and Rita cheered, excitement radiating off of her as Leo just stared at him.

How had he figured that out?

“We’ll take two,” Bucky told Rita, and after they each ordered a drink, he paid and grabbed the little plastic number placard before he led her over to a small table near the windows that had a view of the beach.

It was quiet between them for a minute or two, before Bucky leaned back in his chair and asked if she wanted to know how he figured out which menu item was named after her.

“Obviously,” she answered immediately, leaning forward to rest her chin on her hand.

“It’s the only burrito that has tater tots in it.”

That was what tipped him off? How…?

“Tater tots?” Leo was dumbfounded.

“I’ve seen you order them when the food hall serves breakfast for dinner. Figured you liked ‘em enough to get them in a breakfast burrito,” Bucky paused, taking a sip of his coffee, “That, and Rita called you lioness in Spanish.”

Leo groaned.

“I forgot you speak like a billion languages.”

“It’s only about thirty, doll,” he teased, “Do you speak any other languages? Maybe we have some overlap.”

Leo went on to tell him about how she took Spanish all throughout high school and college, and then studied abroad in Barcelona.

“It was cool figuring out Catalan,” she sighed. “But it was a pretty fun time, and I did a lot of running around Europe with my friends when we were all young and invincible.”

“Y’know, I don’t think I’ve ever been to Spain,” Bucky said, brows furrowed as he thought. “Been to plenty of Spanish speaking countries, though, so I can get by with what I know.”

“Wait, you weren’t part of the Spanish-American War, were you?”

“I’m old but not that old,” he mumbled as Rita brought over their breakfast burritos. “Thank the lord.”

Leo cackled as she tore into the foil and took a bite, her eyes lighting up at the familiar flavor she’d missed so much.

“If I could, I’d freeze six dozen of these and bring them back to New York.”

“That’s high praise. Let’s see if this is really as amazing as you say,” Bucky said as he unwrapped his and dug in.

Leo watched carefully as he assessed, then finally nodded in agreement.

“Okay, I stand corrected. This is incredible.”

She could only smirk in response, her mouth full.

They ate in comfortable silence for a while, Leo looking out at the ocean and then back at Bucky, taking in the quiet before they had to head into the whirlwind that would be the wedding and reception. It was nice, being able to sit in silence, not needing to fill it with meaningless chatter.

Bucky cleared his throat and set his now empty foil wrapper down, a small smile on his face as he started to speak, “You know, last night was… fun. Your friends are somethin’ else. I get why you’re so close. All I had growin’ up was Steve, and then the Howlies, I think. It’s… a little fuzzy.”

“Yeah,” she nodded, her heart aching for everything he had gone through and all of the memories he was still missing. “I’m really lucky to have them. They mean a lot to me.”

Bucky’s gaze softened. “They’re lucky to have you, too. And for what it’s worth, I’m glad to be here.”

Leo’s heart skipped a beat, but she tried not to let herself read too far into it. She couldn’t get her hopes up that he was feeling the same way she did.

After finishing up and bidding farewell to Rita, promising to be back at least one more time before going back to New York, they headed to the car. On the ride back, Leo found herself hoping that the drive would somehow last forever. She couldn’t deny it, she was having the time of her life with Bucky here.

As they neared the resort, he slowed the car down at a red light, giving her a sidelong glance as she flipped through the radio, stopping when she heard a familiar pop song come on.

“So, what’s next? We still have some time until we have to get ready for the ceremony.”

She thought for a moment, tapping her chin, “Well… We could go to the beach? But…” she trailed off, reconsidering. “Actually. How about Balboa Park instead? It’s more lowkey, and has some beautiful places to walk around. Lots of little places to discover and hide away in.”

Bucky’s brows lifted slightly, and she could tell he appreciated the consideration.

“Balboa Park, hm? Sounds like a plan.”

She grinned, relieved he liked the idea, updating the route in the maps app of her phone and setting them on the right path.

Balboa Park was beautiful, Bucky decided as they wandered through the gardens. He’d never been before, and really hadn’t ever heard of it to begin with, so it was nice to see something new. As they walked, Leo pointed out places she used to go to all the time. A particularly sunny patch of grass she used to lay in with her friends while they studied, the pond Cosette nearly fell into one time, and other highlights from her college days.

“Sounds a lot different than when I was that age,” he mused as they sat down at a quiet bench overlooking the pond, and Leo couldn’t help but laugh as she looked out at the ducks that drifted lazily across the water.

“What was it like when you were 20?”

Bucky closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to piece things together. He remembered bits here and there, like escorting his sisters on play dates, keeping Steve out of trouble, and working long hours at the docks to help his ma keep food on the table.

“It was… tough,” he finally answered, locking eyes with Leo, who was now watching him with a soft look on her face. “My father died during a training exercise at Camp Lehigh. I.. had been in school, wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, so I was takin’ all sorts of classes. I cut back after, picked up jobs wherever I could to help support my ma and sisters. The girls were so young…”

He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the short ends.

“Food and basic ingredients were scarce sometimes, with rations and all of that stuff. It was hard, but we did the best we could with what we had, and we were grateful,” he shrugged. “Oh, and we couldn’t just look anything up whenever we had a question. We had to go to the library.”

Bucky watched as Leo’s face creased thoughtfully, and she pushed his shoulder gently as she asked, “Were you happy?”

That was a… hard question. He didn’t think anyone had ever asked him that before. Sure, people asked what it was like living during the depression, then living through wartime. If it was really like how it was displayed in museums or shown in documentaries.

“I think I was. I didn’t know any better, so yeah. I was happy with what I had– my best friend, my family. It was simple. Well, simpler than things are now, I guess.”

Leo nodded, and he could see her absorbing what he said, processing it as she thought of her response.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re here, in this time,” she told him softly, and Bucky couldn’t help but smile.

They sat quietly for a moment, and Bucky listened to the breeze rustling the leaves around them, putting him at ease as he watched the ducks dipping down into the water, their webbed feet kicking above them. He felt grounded for the first time in a long time.

“I appreciate that,” he finally replied, glancing over at her. “Not sure where I’d be without people like you and Steve. You both keep remindin’ me that there’s more out there than… well, what’s up here.”

Leo’s eyes softened as he tapped the side of his head, and she reached over, taking his hand and giving a gentle squeeze.

“You’ve got a whole future ahead of you, Bucky. It’s not always easy to leave the past behind, but I think you’re more than equipped to start fresh.”

He smiled, appreciating her reassuring words and warm touch.

“Feels like a miracle some days, being here. But it’s a good one.”

They watched a pair of ducks paddle to the edge of the pond, quiet quacks between them, and he saw Leo smiling at the two before he looked down at his vibranium hand, flexing it a little.

“This, though… It’s always gonna be part of me,” he murmured, feeling a little vulnerable. “Feels like a piece of my past I can’t ever shake.”

Leo took his hand with both of hers, and he could feel the pressure of her thumbs squeezing into his palm.

“Maybe it’s not something you need to shake?” she asked him. “Maybe it’s just a part of you now, just like how all of this,” she gestured around them with a shake of her head, “is part of your new life.”

He looked at her, his heart heavy but also light at the same time. How did she understand him so well? She had a way of seeing him, really seeing him, as a whole man, and not just the broken pieces he was trying to put back together.

“That’s… a nice way to think about it,” he finally said, squeezing her hand back with a smile.

They stayed there a little while longer until Leo let go of his hand and nudged his shoulder with hers, breaking the silence with a playful grin.

“So, any more old man facts you wanna share with me? Like how candy used to cost a penny?”

Bucky laughed, grateful for the shift.

“Don’t even get me started, doll. You’d be surprised how many of ‘em I got.”

Chapter Text

Don’t drool, don’t drool. Look away before he notices.

Leo tore her eyes away from Bucky as he fixed his tie in the mirror of their room, not wanting to get caught admiring him in the charcoal gray suit he was wearing. It was one thing to see him try it on in the dressing room, but it was something otherworldly to see it on him right now.

She was gonna die.

Instead of ogling him, she turned her attention to buckling the straps of her high heels, when she was suddenly hit with the fuzzy memory of Bucky helping her out of the same shoes the night before.

“You about ready?” he asked as he straightened out his cuffs, and Leo could only stare.

“Oh, um. Yeah, could you just finish zipping my dress? I got it most of the way, but I can’t quite get it.”

Before she could even think about abandoning her ask, he was right behind her, the scent of his cologne enveloping her senses.

He smelled like lavender and musk, and it was driving her insane.

She felt his cool vibranium hand press against her back, holding the fabric in place as his right hand grasped the zipper and pulled it up to nestle in its place.

“Should I connect this little thing at the top of the zipper?” he asked, and Leo had to fight back the shiver that almost ran up her spine.

“The hook and eye? Yes, please.”

Bucky unzipped the dress a little, then connected the hook and eye before pulling it back up, patting her hip when he was done, “There ya go. You look gorgeous, doll.”

Leo looked him over, able to take in his entire… him, and she couldn’t help but smile. The suit fit him perfectly, his black dress shoes were shined, and his hair was slicked back out of his face, but didn’t look like it was full of product.

“Thanks, Buck. You clean up pretty well yourself,” she nodded at him, “Let me just grab my bag and then we can head down to the ceremony.”

The ceremony was outdoors, rows of white chairs lined on the lush green lawn, all facing a wooden arch draped in an array of white and pink flowers. The soft hum of a string quartet filled the air as guests took their seats.

Leo and Bucky arrived just in time, and they walked toward her friends, finding that they’d saved seats for them. Bucky let her sit first, then took his place beside her.

He admired the way her aubergine dress shimmered faintly in the sunlight, and the way it hugged her figure left him stealing glances when he thought she wouldn’t notice.

The ceremony itself was beautiful and heartfelt. Charlie glided down the aisle in an elegant lace gown, her veil floating behind her like something out of a movie. Eric’s face lit up the moment he saw her, his love for her so palpable that everyone could feel it. The officiant, Charlie’s childhood pastor, was warm and told stories about the first time he met Charlie, then meeting Eric and seeing just how far they’ve come together, and his hopes for their future.

Bucky kept his arm around the back of Leo’s chair throughout, his thumb brushing absently against her shoulder blade. It was grounding and intimate, like he couldn’t help but stay connected to her in the moment.

When they said their vows, he glanced at Leo and noticed her eyes were shimmering, wet with tears that threatened to fall. It was touching to see just how much she loved her friend, emotion bubbling up inside him.

Leo carefully wiped at her eyes, blinking and looking up, and he squeezed her shoulder gently, reassuring her that it was okay to cry. He’d already seen Charlie’s family start as soon as she walked down the aisle.

Everyone applauded as the couple shared their first kiss as husband and wife, and they practically floated back down the aisle, all smiles and waves as they disappeared to take photos.

The cocktail hour flew by, Leo flitting around and greeting people Bucky hadn’t seen until the ceremony. He was introduced to friends from college, Charlie’s older brother Graham and her parents, and even a few people Leo had never met before.

Drinks were flowing and he made sure that the glass in Leo’s hand was always full, disappearing to snag her a refill or a canapé that passed by them, then returning to her side and slipping it into her hand. She would give him a bright smile, not breaking from her conversation unless it was with someone he hadn’t met yet. Then, she’d take the opportunity to introduce him.

“Have you met James, my date?” she’d ask, then she would tell him the name of whoever he was being introduced to and how she knew them.

“This is Charlie’s grandma, Bess. She used to send us all the best homemade cookies in school.”

“Meet Micah. He basically lived on our floor sophomore year.”

“Sophie outran the cops when we were freshman so she wouldn’t get caught for underage drinking, then made the track team.”

He filed away every single name. If they were important to Leo, they were important to him.

In turn, he would smile, telling them that they could call him Bucky.

Eric’s grandfather had actually approached him, calling him Sergeant Barnes and thanking him for his service. He still wasn’t quite used to that, but Leo stepped in when he froze up, telling him that John Matthews had served as well, in the Army Air Forces.

“Glad you’re getting to live the life you deserve,” John said warmly, and Bucky felt like he couldn’t breathe. He powered through it, choking out a thanks, then excused himself from the conversation, mumbling that he’d be back.

He found the closest restroom and slipped inside, locking himself in a stall and taking a deep breath.

He hadn’t thought about his past much over the past few days… or really when he was around Leo.

Leo.

He couldn’t believe he just left her like that without saying anything.

Emerging from the stall, Bucky went to the sink and splashed his face with water, careful to avoid getting any on his suit.

He could do this.

When he stepped out of the restroom, he almost barreled into Cosette, who was holding two glasses of champagne in one hand and a prosciutto and goat cheese wrapped pastry puff in the other.

“Oh, there you are!” she skidded to a halt, nearly spilling the drinks. “Saw you disappear, Leo might not say anything, but she’s getting a little antsy without you.”

Bucky found Leo by one of the high top tables, caught in what looked like an excruciatingly dull conversation with one of Eric’s distant relatives. The older man was droning on about something related to his stamp collection, gesturing animatedly while Leo nodded along with a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Mind if I steal her? I think it’s about time for us to find our seats for dinner,” Bucky asked smoothly, stepping in before she could reply. His hand rested lightly on her lower back, and she immediately turned toward him with an expression of pure gratitude.

“Oh, of course,” the man said, waving them off with a chuckle. “Young love is a wonderful thing, enjoy the evening!”

As Bucky led her away, Leo let out a sigh of relief.

“You’re a lifesaver. I owe you for that.”

“Just doing my civic duty,” he teased with a smirk. “You okay? I didn’t mean to leave you hanging earlier.”

They headed from the cocktail hour over toward where the reception was being held, along a pretty, well manicured path, and she looked up at him, pulling him off the path down a different one, so they weren’t in the way of everyone trying to get to their tables.

Leo looked up at him, and he could see the concern clear on her face.

“Yeah, but are you okay? You disappeared so fast after talking to Eric’s grandfather.”

He hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor.

“It just… caught me off guard, is all. I’m fine now.”

He could feel her studying him, her hand gently brushing his arm.

“You don’t have to talk about it, but if you ever want to, I’m here.”

The way she looked at him, her eyes full of concern and understanding, made something twist in his chest.

“Thanks, doll,” he nodded.

She nudged him back to the path, “Now come on, let’s find our seats. If they put us with Eric’s frat brothers I’m gonna strangle Charlie.”

“I don’t think she’d do that to you,” he laughed, following her towards the reception.

They weren’t at a table with Eric’s frat brothers, thankfully. They’d been seated with Roxy and her husband Dylan, who was a genuinely nice guy, Cosette, Eliza, and another couple that he’d seen at the cocktail hour. They were more of Charlie’s college friends, and Leo knew them, but mumbled to him that they hadn’t been super close.

Bucky enjoyed himself at the reception. He clapped when Charlie and Eric finally joined everyone on the terrace, genuinely glad to see them so happy and in love.

During the speeches, he noticed Leo tearing up, and when Charlie’s brother, who had been her man of honor, gave his speech, she actually cried as Graham spoke about how inseparable he and his little sister have always been. Her shoulders shook slightly, and Bucky wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to lean into him.

After the emotional speeches were over and done with, dinner was served, and as the night progressed, Bucky found himself enjoying the warmth of the group at their table. Dylan turned out to be easygoing and quick with a joke, which made the evening feel relaxed.

Roxy and Cosette kept up a steady flow of teasing banter, and Eliza, a surprising wildcard, made it her mission to challenge everyone at the table to a dance off before the night was over.

Bucky’s focus rarely strayed far from Leo, though. She looked radiant under the soft glow of the string lights, her laughter ringing out as she bantered with Roxy and stole bites of the chocolate cake Bucky had saved for her.

When the dance floor opened, Leo grabbed his hand and pulled him up, refusing to take no for an answer.

“Come on, Buck. One dance won’t kill you.”

He sighed dramatically, but allowed her to drag him out of his seat, her smile enough to melt away any reluctance he felt.

The band switched to some jazzy, upbeat tune, and Leo surprised him by spinning herself under his arm with surprising grace.

“You didn’t tell me you could dance,” he said, grinning as she moved effortlessly.

“I didn’t tell you a lot of things,” she teased, flashing him a playful smile. “Can’t give everything away all at once!”

They swayed and spun, and for a brief moment, it felt like they were the only ones there. Bucky barely noticed when the song shifted into something slower. He pulled her closer, his hands settling naturally at the curve of her waist, and her arms looped around his neck.

“Having fun?” he asked softly.

She nodded, looking up at him.

“Best wedding I’ve ever been to.”

“You’ve only been to, like, two,” he teased.

“Doesn’t make it less true.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “You’re something else, doll.”

“Good something or bad something?”

He leaned down, his voice low and warm in her ear.

“The best.”

Leo blushed but didn’t look away. For a moment, neither of them spoke, just swaying with the music.

The spell broke when Roxy and Cosette pulled Leo away to join them for photos with Charlie, leaving Bucky laughing as he watched her get dragged into their antics. He sat back at the table with Dylan, nursing his drink and watching Leo light up the dance floor.

When the music shifted to something slower, Leo walked off the floor, her cheeks flushed and hair slightly tousled. She weaved through the crowd, her eyes instinctively searching for Bucky.

She found him right where she figured he’d be, sitting at their table with Dylan, sipping his drink, and watching her with that small, crooked smile that never failed to make her heart skip.

He looked perfect, the picture of boyish charm, with his tie loosened and the top button of his shirt collar undone, hair pushed back from running his fingers through it too many times. She noticed every single time he did it.

When she reached him, Bucky stood, stepping forward and brushing his hand lightly against her arm.

“Looks like you were having fun out there,” he said, his voice warm and teasing.

“I was,” she admitted, catching her breath. “But it’s not as fun without you.”

His lips tilted upward, and he held out a hand.

“Then let’s fix that. One more dance?”

Surprised but delighted, she nodded and slipped her hand into his. He led her back onto the dance floor as a romantic ballad filled the air. This time, there was no teasing, no playful spins. Just the two of them, swaying close under the soft glow of the string lights.

Leo rested her head lightly against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her cheek. His vibranium hand was pressed gently against the small of her back, holding her close, while his other hand intertwined with hers. She felt so much, wrapped in the quiet intimacy of the moment, her thoughts on Bucky and only Bucky.

“You’re really full of surprises tonight,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, but he heard her all the same.

“Guess you bring it out of me,” Bucky chuckled, his breath stirring the hair at her temple.

She tilted her head to look up at him, and her breath caught at the softness in his expression. His blue eyes were warm, but there was a vulnerability lingering there that she hadn’t seen before.

“Bucky…” she started, but the words were stuck in her throat.

“Yeah?” he prompted, his voice low and rough in a way that made her pulse race.

She shook her head with a small smile, unable to put her feelings into words. Instead, she leaned into him, letting the action speak for her. He seemed to understand because his grip tightened ever so slightly, grounding her in a way that felt so natural.

When the song ended, neither of them moved right away. It wasn’t until the next song began that Leo finally pulled back, her face warm as she met his gaze.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“For what?” he asked, genuinely curious.

“For… being here. For coming with me. For being you.”

He looked at her for a long moment, then gave her a bright, disarming smile.

“Anytime, doll.”

The moment lingered between them before they returned to the table so Leo could put her feet up. The reception continued, filled with laughter, desserts, and plenty of dancing.

Leo found herself drawn to Bucky throughout the night, whether it was the way his hand brushed against hers when they sat close or the way he’d catch her eye from across the terrace and smile.

Eventually, the evening began winding down, and the group at their table decided the party wasn’t quite over yet even though Charlie and Eric had disappeared to their suite not that long ago.

“Alright, who’s up for an after party?” Roxy declared, standing and clinking her glass with a fork. “There’s a bar not that long of an Uber away, and I’m not ready to call it a night.”

“Didn’t you get enough after party last night?” Dylan groaned playfully. “You just want an excuse to order shots because the bartender cut you off earlier.”

“Obviously,” Roxy shot back with a grin. “Leo, Bucky, you in?”

Leo glanced at Bucky, who shrugged with an easy smile. “Why not?”

Chapter Text

Ten minutes later, the group piled into a couple of Ubers and headed to a nearby bar.

The atmosphere was lively but not overcrowded, with dim lighting, cozy booths, and a jukebox in the corner. Leo wasted no time ordering drinks for everyone, while she sent the rest to stake out a table big enough for their group.

She stood at the bar, waiting to order, when a guy in a checkered button up and a Patagonia vest with a company logo she vaguely recognized on it slid in beside her, trying to chat her up.

“Haven’t seen you here before,” he mused, and Leo fought back an eye roll with everything she had in her, but she’d already had more than a few drinks at the reception, so it was hard.

“Never been here before,” she shot back dully, not liking where this was going.

“Wanna join me for a drink?”

She shook her head, not even bothering to look at him, “I think I’ll pass.”

Once she got the bartender’s attention and ordered for the group, she tried to avoid eye contact with the guy, who clearly wasn’t getting that she wasn’t interested in talking.

He asked her something she didn’t quite hear over the loud music, and waved him off as she set two fingers on the bartop, tapping out a signal that she and her friends had established in college for situations just like these, hoping that someone over at the table was watching.

“Hey, Leo just flashed our send help signal, you should step in,” Eliza said from beside Bucky, and he immediately focused his attention on Leo, who was at the bar standing beside a casually dressed man, tapping out Morse code on the granite bartop.

“She’s tapping S-O-S,” he mumbled, more to himself, before he looked at Eliza and gave a single nod.

Bucky drew his shoulders tight and walked across the bar. He watched as this man said something to her that he couldn’t hear– the music was too loud and he was too far away, but he saw her flinch back from him, so he picked up his pace, slotting himself in behind her and locking eyes with the man that was on her other side.

“Baby, you need help takin’ all these drinks back to the girls?” he asked, resting his vibranium hand gently on her shoulder.

Leo turned her head sharply at the sound of his voice, her annoyed glare quickly softening when she saw him. He watched relief flicker across her face, and she leaned back slightly into his touch, telling him all he needed to know.

“Yeah, honey,” Leo said, her voice tinged with gratitude, “I was just about to text you and ask if you’d come help me.”

The man in front of her froze, his smirk falling as he looked from Leo to Bucky’s broad frame. But then his eyes narrowed, a strange gleam replacing the initial annoyance of being shot down. He stared at Bucky, his gaze lingering on his face, then flicking down to the vibranium arm. The corners of his lips tilted up, recognition in his eyes.

“Wait a minute…” the man said, his voice low. He leaned a little closer, the scent of cheap whiskey wafting towards him. “I know you.”

A coldness settled in Bucky’s chest. The lights seemed to dim around him, and the bass from the music pounded against his ribs.

“I think you got me confused with someone else,” Bucky said, his voice flat, trying to hide the fear that was running through him. He tightened his hand that was resting against the bar, his knuckles turning white.

The man ignored him, his eyes gleaming with something predatory. “No… I’ve seen the pictures. The reports… It’s all on Reddit. You’re the Winter Soldier, aren’t you? Hydra’s ghost. The Asset.” He was trying to sound menacing, but with what Bucky had seen, it sounded cartoonish.

Leo stiffened in front of him, her hand slipping into his against the bar. He could feel her pulse racing, obviously just as stressed as he was.

“You got the wrong guy,” Bucky repeated, trying to keep his voice steady. “Look, you’re clearly drunk. Just move on, alright?”

He had to get out of here.

“No way,” the man breathed, his eyes never leaving Bucky’s. He reached out a hand, his fingers flexing with anticipation as he reached for Bucky’s vibranium arm. “Let me see it. Let me see what you used to…”

Bucky’s field of vision narrowed. The bar blurred. Music pounded. Only the hand reaching for him remained. He could only hear the echo of whispered commands and the screams of his victims. His training kicked in, his muscles coiled, ready to strike when the moment was right, to neutralize the threat.

No, not a threat. Just a drunk idiot.

But then Leo’s voice cut through the fog, sharp and clear.

“Hey! That’s enough!” she said, her voice loud and firm. She stood a little taller, getting in the guy’s space, like she was a shield. Her eyes were locked on the man, her face was calm but her jaw was set. “Listen, douchebag, I don’t know what your problem is. First you can’t take no for an answer when I turned you down, now you’re throwing around accusations and trying to touch someone who clearly doesn’t want you to touch them. Why don’t you just go back to your mom’s basement and leave us alone? Do I need to get security involved?”

No one had ever stood up for him like that, except for Steve. But this felt different. Everything felt different with Leo.

Before he had time to really think about that, Bucky noticed two bouncers headed their way. They were big, but he knew he was stronger than both of them combined.

The man stared at Leo, like he was ready to say something, but then he seemed to deflate, his shoulders slumping when he realized she wasn’t backing down.

“I… Just forget this happened,” he mumbled, his eyes darting between Bucky and Leo before he turned and slipped into the crowd.

The bouncers got to them, their faces stern as they assessed the situation.

“Is everything alright here, miss?” one of them asked.

Leo gave them a reassuring smile. “Everything’s fine. Some guy just had a little too much to drink, wouldn’t take no for an answer, but I think I handled it. Thanks for checking in.”

The bouncers nodded and moved on, and Bucky let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

She turned back to him, her eyes scanning his face. He wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but he had to try his best to avoid making eye contact.

“You okay?” she asked, her voice softer now. She touched his cheek, cupping his face with her warm hand. “You want to get out of here? We can leave– go back to the resort, order some pizza, and braid each other’s hair, though yours isn’t quite long enough for that anymore, I’ll work with what you have.”

He finally met her gaze, and he could see the concern in her hazel eyes. He didn’t want her to see him like this, like some scared, traumatized creature who froze at conflict. He never froze like that, but the normalcy he’d had all weekend seemed to lull him into a sense of security that made him feel like he was normal. That no one knew who he was. Well. That bubble had burst now.

“Yeah,” he lied, his voice rough, like it wasn’t his own. “I’m fine. Let’s just… try to forget about it, okay?”

Leo searched his face, her brow furrowed with worry. He could see the questions swirling in his eyes, the unspoken need to understand.

“Are you sure?” she pressed gently. “Pizza sounds pretty good right about now…”

Bucky hesitated, torn between the instinct to flee and his desire to stay by her side, to pretend for just a little while longer that he was normal, that he was worthy of her.

He took a deep breath and nodded.

“I’m not gonna let some weird Hydra fanboy ruin our night,” he said, voice laced with a forced cheerfulness. “Besides, your friends would never forgive me if we bailed early, and I still need to prove to them I can actually be fun. How about we just try to enjoy ourselves, yeah? We’ll stick close, and if anything else happens, we can leave. Okay?”

He was going to be fine.

“You sure? I mean it, we can chug all these drinks and dip,” she laughed, gesturing to the cocktails she’d ordered for everyone.

He took her hand and squeezed tightly, his gaze unwavering. “I want to be here. Let’s get these to the girls before they’re too watered down. I’m sure Cose is gonna pitch a fit about us taking so long.”

Leo searched his face one last time, her eyes lingering before she finally nodded, her pink lips curving up into a small smile. She shot him a knowing look, and they gathered up all of the drinks and weaved through the crowd together. She stayed close to his side, her shoulder brushing his arm as they walked. It wasn’t until they were back at the table and the drinks were dispersed amongst the group that she looked up at him with a spark of humor in her eyes as Cosette complained about how long it had taken.

Eliza leaned across the table, looking between the two of them as she asked, “Everything good?”

“Yup, just some bro being a dick. Thanks for sending the cavalry,” Leo smiled as she leaned against Bucky, and he responded by wrapping his arm around her shoulder and squeezing gently. He could feel the warmth of her skin thanks to the sensors Shuri had recently upgraded in his arm, and he sent her a silent thanks for that.

He wasn’t surprised that she didn’t tell them about what had really happened, and he appreciated it. He was surprised by how quickly he let himself relax after that confrontation, though.

“Are you open to personal bodyguard gigs?” Cosette asked from beside Eliza, “It’d be soooo nice to not have to deal with creeps on a night out for once!”

“Yeah, you gotta come down to the city with us all one night!” Roxy nodded, “Drag Leo with you. God knows she doesn’t visit often enough!”

Bucky felt Leo huff beside him. He knew it was a sore spot for her, so he rubbed her shoulder a little, trying to be reassuring.

“If that’s something you all want, I’ll be glad to do it,” he told them truthfully. “To be honest, wasn’t quite sure you all would wanna have me around again.”

“Puh-lease,” Cosette rolled her eyes dramatically, and he held back a laugh. “You’re never getting rid of us. You know it, I know it, Leo sure knows it.”

“Cose,” Leo warned, and Bucky felt like he was watching a fight starting to build steam.

Dylan and Roxy conveniently decided to disappear to the bar, leaving whatever was about to unfold behind them.

“What? You know it’s true, you two have insane chemistry,” Cosette shot back, and Bucky frowned.

Was that a compliment? He didn’t always catch the slang, but her tone didn’t sound like an insult…

“Just shut the fuck up, okay?” Leo hissed, and before Bucky even realized it she shoved herself out of the booth and vanished into the crowd without looking back.

“Way to go, Cosie. You know how she gets when you confront her with feelings,” Eliza sighed, and Cosette just shook her head, taking a long sip of her drink.

“I’m not gonna sit back and let her self sabotage. She always bolts when it gets real,” Cosette muttered into her drink, not bothering to watch Leo disappear. Then she turned her attention to him, and he felt like he was about to be interrogated. “You like her, right?”

He nodded, “I do. More and more every day.”

“You see things going somewhere with her? Like, delete your dating apps, being exclusive, shit like that?” Cosette continued, leaning forward, her elbows on the table as she sized him up. “What do you want, Bucky?”

The words struck him like a punch in the chest. The last time someone had asked him that, it was his therapist, Dr. Raynor, her pen poised over her notepad, her expression less than patient. He hadn’t had an answer then. The question had felt like an impossible riddle, a language he no longer spoke. Want? For decades, want had been irrelevant. There was only the mission, the objective, survival. Then learning how to exist again. But now… now the answer was so simple. It was sitting right there at the end of the bar, waiting for the bartender, her back to him, her shoulders slumped just a little.

He had an answer now. It was Leo.

“Dating apps? I don’t have–? Exclusive, yeah. I… I’d like that, with Leo,” he finally managed to spit out.

He was a highly trained assassin, and this girl was making him stutter. What the hell?

“What are you gonna do to make that happen?” she asked, brow raised, arms crossed over her chest now as she leaned back in her chair. “What is Mister Big, Scary Avenger gonna do about it?”

Bucky narrowed his gaze, keeping eye contact with Cosette, waiting for her to break and look away, but she didn’t. She just kept staring at him, challenging him, and he was honestly impressed. He heard a thump from beneath Cosette, and spotted the not-so-subtle knock it off look Eliza was giving her.

Surprisingly, he’s the one that broke first.

“Christ, remind me to keep you away from Natasha,” he grumbled, looking out into the crowd and setting his sights on Leo. “I’ll be back.”

Cosette gave him a triumphant grin, her eyes lit up by the fact that she won.

“See ya later, Buckaroo!”

Bucky shook his head as he stood from his seat, giving the group of girls a small salute with two fingers, then he flipped the bird at Cosette playfully before he took off for Leo.

He weaved through the crowd, his eyes locked on Leo as she leaned against the bar, her fingers up to flag down the bartender whenever he got a chance to help.

When he reached her, he stepped close, but not close enough to crowd her, and he flagged down the bartender, who came over immediately.

“Could we get a cosmo and a whiskey on the rocks? You can put it on Barnes,” he said before Leo could order, and once the bartender nodded and started on their drinks, he noticed that she had turned to face him.

“Hey,” she said tentatively, “Thanks for that. I would’ve been there forever if you hadn’t come… Seems like you’re always around to save the day.”

He wasn’t sure what to make of that. Was it a dig? Was it just an observation? Instead of taking the time to overthink, he shrugged it off and said it was the least he could do.

“Would you… want to step outside for a few minutes? To talk?” he asked after their drinks had been set down on the bar. He’d spotted a door leading out to a patio earlier, and figured it would be quieter out there.

He caught a quick glimpse of fear before she plastered a half-hearted smile in its place.

“Sure, let’s go outside,” she nodded, and he took her hand, squeezing gently before he led her out through the back doors.

The patio was a small oasis, the chaotic energy of the bar dampened by a thick wooden door. Strings of lights were woven through around wood beams, casting a soft dappled glow that made the cool night air feel intimate. Most of the high-top tables were empty, so he chose one in the corner, pulling out the chair for Leo before leaning against the railing himself, too full of nervous energy to sit still.

He tried to focus, he really did. He tried to use any of the training that had been drilled into him, but there was no protocol for this. No tactical approach. He was just… him. And all he could focus on was how the soft light caught the flyaways of her hair, how her fingers traced the condensation on her glass, how beautiful she looked, even with the faint worry still creasing her brow.

“Look… I know Cosette was being… a lot. I’m sorry,” Leo started with a sigh. “I told them to lay off the interrogations and all of that, but they just don’t know when to stop sometimes. I get it if it’s too much.”

“She’s not wrong,” he told her, and he watched confusion flash across her face as she finally looked up at him.

“What?”

“She’s not wrong,” he repeated, holding her gaze. “Leo, I’ve wanted to tell you for a while now. I… I like you, more than I’ve liked anyone in a long time. Probably ever.”

Her lips parted in surprise, but she didn’t interrupt.

“I’m not great at this,” he admitted bashfully. “But I know what I feel, and I know I don’t want to keep it to myself anymore. So… if you feel the same, tell me. If you don’t–”

“I do,” she interrupted, making him stop. “Feel the same, I mean.”

Relief flooded him, and before he could overthink it, he stepped closer, her knees parting so he could stand between them. He cupped her face gently with his right hand, warmth flooding his fingertips. “I’m a little rusty, but can I kiss you? I’ve been wantin’ to for months now.”

Her only answer was a breathless nod.

It was slow and tentative at first, testing the waters. It deepened in no time, her fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as she leaned into him. He felt her smile against his lips, and it made something warm and bright bloom in his chest.

When they finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless, Leo shook her head and laughed.

“So that’s what Cose meant by insane chemistry.”

Bucky laughed, a genuine, relieved sound that seemed to release the tension he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding onto. He smiled, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Guess she was onto something.”

He felt… lighter. Lighter than he had in years. Decades, even.

“Don’t tell her that, she’ll never let it go if you admit she’s right.”

“Noted. You ready to go back inside, pretty girl?” he asked, his fingers threading through hers, his thumb brushing against the back of her hand.

“Mm, I like when you call me that,” Leo told him, and Bucky didn’t think he could be any happier.

“Yeah?” he grinned. “Like it when I call ya sweet things?”

She nodded, leaning into him, “I could get used to it. Let’s stay out here a little longer?”

“Anything you want, sweetheart.”

They stayed outside, basking in the glow of this new closeness. Leo stayed pressed into Bucky’s chest, her arms wrapped around him and her chin resting on his shoulder. He trailed his fingers along her back, eyes closed, soaking in the feeling.

“This is real, right?” he mumbled, “I’m not… gonna wake up in some underground bunker in Russia, right?”

Leo froze, the fingers that had been playing with the hair at the back of his neck still tangled in the strands. He felt her inhale deeply, then release the breath slowly and even.

“This is real. I promise,” she answered softly. “You’re exactly where you should be.”

She leaned back, the tips of her fingers moving from his hair to trace along his jaw, rubbing against the grain.

“You were freshly shaved this morning, and here you are with some stubble already,” she mused, eyes following the path her fingers were tracing. “Next thing I know, it’s gonna be a full on beard.”

“What, you don’t like a little facial hair?” Bucky teased, hiding the little rush of fear that ran up his spine. Maybe she didn’t.

“I happen to love it,” she beamed. “Just don’t give me beard burn or I swear to—“

He cut her off with a kiss, making sure she could feel him against her skin before he pulled back and winked.

Back inside, the group immediately noticed the change in Leo and Bucky’s dynamic. They walked back hand in hand, their smiles soft and private, like they were in their own little world.

Cosette’s eyes went wide as she spotted something across the bar. She gasped so loudly that half the group jumped.

“Oh my god, you guys! PHOTO BOOTH.”

Bucky blinked, following Cosette’s pointing finger to the far corner of the bar, where neon lights glowed around a battered photo booth. It looked like it had seen better days, paint peeling at the edges, a creased curtain that was fraying at the bottom. It had a sign that read Two Strips $5 and a little blinking light overhead. A couple stumbled out of it, giggling, their strips waving in the girl’s hand loosely.

Cosette was practically vibrating. “Come on. All of us. Cram in.”

Roxy was already dragging Dylan by the arm, pushing him into the booth. “Get in, you big tree. You’re in the back row.”

“Move, move, my hair needs to be on my good side,” Eliza chimed in as she climbed inside.

Leo shook her head, “Nooo, I’m a mess, I can’t–”

“You look great, sweetheart,” Bucky smirked. “Get on in there.”

Before Leo could argue, Cosette was physically shoving them all into the booth, arranging them like Tetris pieces. Bucky found himself pressed into the back corner, Dylan nearly folded in half beside him, Roxy on his lap, and Cosette somehow half sitting on Eliza. Leo was in his lap, sideways, trying to keep her hair from blocking anyone’s face.

The card reader gave a loud beep after Cosette tapped her phone to pay, and started snapping photos while the group screamed and laughed, faces contorting into goofy expressions. Eliza flashed peace signs, Roxy kissed Dylan’s cheek, and Cosette stuck her tongue out while Leo and Bucky exchanged wide-eyed looks of faux fear.

Cosette held them captive, paying for four sets of strips, and by the time they tumbled out, laughing and gasping for air, she was already going through the strips.

“Oh my god, these are amazing,” she declared. “I’m putting these in the MoMA, aka my Instagram story.”

The girls all huddled around the photos, pointing out each other’s silly faces, when Bucky gently set a hand on Leo’s shoulder to get her attention. She turned to him, cheeks pink from giggling. Her eyes dropped shyly for a second, then darted back up to his.

“Um… want to go in, just us?”

He raised a brow. “Oh? Got some ideas?”

She tugged him by the hand, pulling him back to the booth. “Come on. We need a set of pictures that don’t have Cose’s elbow in my face.”

He followed without a second thought. In that moment, he’d follow her anywhere.

The air inside the booth was close and warm, smelling faintly of old paper and the lingering scent of Leo’s perfume. The loud thumping of the bar’s music became a distant heartbeat. It felt like they were in their own private universe, a tiny bubble of soft light and quiet intimacy. When she settled onto his lap, her body fitting against his like it was made to be there, he had to consciously remember to breathe.

Leo tapped her phone to the card reader and then tossed her phone away. Her smile faded into something softer, her fingers brushing his jaw, angling him to face the camera.

“Smile for the first one,” she whispered as the screen counted down.

Bucky flashed a grin just as the light popped.

“For the second one? Goofy face.” Leo crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue. Bucky mimicked her, crossing his eyes and puffing out his cheeks, making her snort with laughter.

The third countdown began, and Leo leaned in, kissing his cheek.

“Last one,” she murmured, and before he could answer, she caught his lips with hers.

The final flash went off just as his hands slid down to her waist, deepening the kiss. She melted against him, sighing happily.

When they finally pulled back, breathless, Leo peeked over her shoulder as the strips of photos printed out. She picked them up with delicate fingers, studying the images. Bucky took each image in, every one better than the one before it.

The first, they were both smiling wide, cheeks pressed together. In the second, they wore matching goofy faces. The third had Leo kissing his cheek, eyes closed while he looked into the camera, stunned.

The final photo, they were mid-makeout, Leo’s hand cupping his jaw, fingertips in his hair, Bucky pulling her close.

Leo’s eyes went soft as she traced the last photo. “We look… happy.”

“That’s ‘cause we are,” he answered as he wrapped his arm tighter around her waist.

She beamed at him, then slipped the photo strips into her bag. “I’m keeping these.”

“There are two copies, don’t I get one?” he asked, and she shook her head.

“Nope. You’ll just have to take more with me,” she teased, pressing another kiss to his lips.

Bucky grinned as he swiped his card through the reader, “Your wish is my command.”

He didn’t know how many more pictures they took, but eventually they pushed out of the booth, a grin on Bucky’s face, Leo’s hand firmly held in his, the other clutching onto a stack of photo strips.

Cosette immediately shrieked, “OH MY GOD THAT’S WHERE YOU WENT–” Leo brandished the first set of photo strips triumphantly, and Cosette launched herself forward to try and snatch it away.

“Cose, I will fight you,” Leo threatened, lifting it out of reach as they dissolved into chaos again.

“I TOLD YOU!” she declared triumphantly, throwing her hands in the air and earning curious glances from the people around them. “What did I say, huh? I knew it! We all knew it was only a matter of time.”

Leo groaned, burying her face in Bucky’s shoulder as he chuckled beside her.

“I’m never gonna hear the end of this,” she mumbled into his arm, though she couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

Eliza raised her glass. “Well, now that it’s official, or close enough, it’s time for a toast!”

Cosette clapped her hands eagerly. “Round of shots, on me! To the idiots finally getting it together, and the photos they’re hiding from their little romp in the booth!”

She and Roxy went to the bar, returning with enough tequila shots to take down a small horse, along with limes and salt. They cheered, clinking their glasses together before downing the shots, laughter erupting as they each made faces at the sharp burn.

Bucky watched Leo closely, grinning as she scrunched her nose and sucked on a lime slice.

“You okay, pretty girl?” he asked, sliding an arm around her waist.

She leaned into him, her warmth against his side making him feel like he was on fire in the best way.

“I’m great,” she said softly, eyes glimmering with affection.

Bucky kept an eye on the group as it got later into the night and the girls grew rowdier. Dylan sat on one side of the booth, stopping Roxy from climbing over him whenever she tried to run off somewhere. Cosette had nearly gotten into a fight with a man at the bar for taking her vodka soda but she hadn’t even ordered yet, and that’s when he knew it was time for them to leave.

When he got back to Leo after splitting Cose up from the man, he saw her standing with Eliza, swaying slightly on her tall heels, a lazy smile on her lips as she said something he couldn’t quite hear.

“Time to call it a night, sweetheart?” he murmured in her ear, pulling her back against him to hold her steady.

She nodded sleepily, and with a quick glance at Eliza, who gave him an approving thumbs up, he went and made sure the bill was settled while she began shepherding the group outside.

Bucky took a headcount and made sure he had all the girls, then ordered one Uber while Dylan got another. While they waited, Cosette, Roxy, and Eliza all giggled and sang along to the music that was still playing inside, while Leo stayed tucked under his arm, a little wobbly but he steadied her whenever she drifted.

“Can we get street dogs?” Cosette asked, her eyes wide as she spotted the cart on the corner, not too far from where they were standing.

“No, Cose, the car’s gonna be here soon,” Bucky told her, glancing down at his phone screen and saw that they had ten more minutes, but she didn’t have to know that.

“You’re no fun, grandpa,” she grumbled, “I’m getting one. Try and stop me.”

She waltzed off towards the cart, dragging Roxy with her, Dylan not far behind. Eliza stuck around for a second, asking if they wanted one.

“I would loooove a street dog,” Leo said, her eyes lighting up at the thought of it. “Remember that time I–”

“Nope! You’re not talking about that in front of your man, Leonard,” Eliza cut her off, then looked at Bucky pleadingly. “Distract her. We’ll be back with sustenance soon.”

As she flounced off to follow her friends, Bucky looked down at Leo, wondering what she had been about to say, but he heeded Eliza’s plea instead. Probably better that he didn’t know.

“You never told me why they all call you Leonard,” he said, his fingers tracing shapes along the small of her back as he held her close. It felt so easy to touch her, to feel her soft skin with his fingertips.

“It’s so dumb,” she groaned in embarrassment. “Everyone always asks me what Leo is short for when I introduce myself, so in college, my friends started telling people it was Leonard! Not even Leonardo. Leonard! An old man name!”

Bucky couldn’t help but laugh, and she rolled her eyes, “Don’t laugh, you have an old man name!”

“I don’t really think James qualifies, sweetheart…”

“Noooo, Buchanan, obviously. What kind of name is that? But I guess it fits because you are an old–”

He pinched her hip playfully. “Watch it, doll. This old man is makin’ sure you and your friends get home tonight.”

“I like it when you smile like that,” she mused, her fingers tracing his cheek. “You’ve been smiling more lately. You didn’t very much before.”

“Before what? You been keepin’ tabs on me?”

She shrugged, “Before we really started hanging out, I guess. I’d always see you frowning or just a blank look… it’s nice to see you smile.”

Before he could say anything, Cosette appeared out of nowhere, an actual tower of foil-wrapped hot dogs in her hands.

“I heard you have a super appetite, so we talked to the lady and she cut us a deal since we may have told her you’re Captain America,” she told him, clearly pleased with her spoils. “You want one? Or like… six?”

Bucky bit back a smile, trying his hardest to act mad, but his resolve broke as he laughed and took a hot dog from the top of her pile. “Thanks, Cose.”

The ride back to the resort wasn’t too crazy, thankfully. Bucky had purposely sat Cosette with Eliza in the very back row of the SUV so she wouldn’t be able to access an open window, and he got to sit with Leo in the row in front of them.

He watched them during the ride, Cose and Eliza a chaotic tangle of limbs and off-key singing, and felt a strange, unfamiliar pang in his chest. It wasn’t annoyance. It was… fondness? These were her friends. And they were becoming his, too. He glanced down at Leo, tucked under his arm, her eyes getting heavy, and felt a surge of protectiveness so fierce it almost hurt. He’d do anything to keep her this happy.

Once he dropped the girls off at their rooms, receiving hugs and “Five stars, A+, would recommend” comments from them each in one way or another, he guided Leo up to their room. She dug through her purse for her keycard, laughter bubbling out of her when he pulled one from his pocket and unlocked the door with ease, leading her inside.

“Let’s get you ready for bed, sweet thing,” he said, fondness clear in his voice as he had her sit on the edge of the bed.

Leo tilted her head, squinting up at him with a playful smile. “You’re just looking for an excuse to play knight in shining armor again, aren’t you?”

He chuckled, kneeling in front of her to unstrap her heels.

“You caught me,” he teased, sliding one shoe off and then the other. “But you don’t make it easy to resist.”

Once her shoes were off, he gave her soft calf a gentle squeeze before he disappeared into the bathroom to grab the micellar water and a few cotton pads, familiar with her routine now. He knelt in front of her again, carefully wiping the makeup from her face with gentle precision.

“You’re too good at this,” Leo murmured, her voice drowsy but affectionate. “Starting to think you’re secretly a skincare pro. ‘s how you look so young. No wrinkles in sight.”

“You’re the only one I wanna do this for,” he said, stealing a quick kiss as he worked. “I think the whole no wrinkles thing is just my good genes.”

“Good genes my ass,” she giggled, her hands finding their way to his face as she cupped his cheeks, pulling him for another, longer kiss. He hummed against her lips, the warmth of her touch making his chest tighten in the best way.

“You taste like hot dogs,” she teased when they finally parted, her lips tilted up in a soft smile.

“So that’s why you keep kissin’ me, huh?” he asked, brushing his thumb across her cheek as he just looked at her.

Every touch, every glance between them felt electric now, even more than before. It was confirmation that everything had shifted between them tonight, and Bucky was absolutely enthralled.

Once her makeup was gone, he slathered on the moisturizer she’d used in the morning, laughing when she made a point to rub some into his skin too. They brushed their teeth in the bathroom together, Leo making faces at Bucky in the mirror as she leaned against his side.

Next, he helped her into her pajamas, which she’d decided would be a pair of her own sleep shorts and one of his t-shirts, and something about that made his breath catch in his throat. His hands lingered on her waist as she steadied herself with a hand on his shoulder as she stepped into her shorts, then pulled on his shirt and somehow shimmied out of her dress and bra.

Women were magicians.

As she crawled into bed, she reached out for him, her eyes half-lidded as she made grabby hands.

“Stay?” she pouted, just like she had the night before, and in that moment he knew he would never, could never, say no to her.

“Always,” he promised, slipping under the covers beside her. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close as she nestled into his chest, her fingers playing with the dog tags that hung around his neck.

As her breathing evened out and she drifted off to sleep, Bucky couldn’t help but press one more kiss to her forehead, whispering against her skin, “I’ve got you, pretty girl. Always.”