sj-ficrecs

[sj-ficrecs]

New Neighbour

Bucky A/U

Summary: Your new neighbour moves in next to you who you think is handsome. He comes to you for help with a fluffy situation he finds on his motorcycle. You bond over the tiny white kitten he now calls his.

Content warning: Flufffffff, I can't think of anything else? ALPINE!!

You had lived in your apartment building for a few years now, making friends with most of the people on your floor. You were sad when Mr. Watson moved out since he was such a good and quiet neighbour. You were nervous because you were unsure of who the new tenant would be. You had hoped they were quiet like Mr. Watson or at the very least, considerate of the time of day. The walls were thin in the old building you lived in, so you were just praying that whoever moved in was going to be nice and quiet.

You watched as two trucks stopped out front and were being unloaded by two men who were freakishly fit and handsome, moving the boxes with ease. Lucky for you, your computer desk was right near the window, so you had a good clear view of the show while you returned some emails and did some online shopping.

One of the men was tall, had blonde hair, broad shoulders, and a wholesomeness about him you couldn't look away from. The other had dark hair, slightly on the longer side, was tall like his friend and equally strong looking and just as handsome, if not more.

When he turned to talk with his friend, you noticed his piercing blue eyes that made your heart skip a beat and wished for that moment you were staring into them.

You forced yourself out of your daydream and continued observing the move in process. You watched the two men argue and bicker, but they always had a smile on their face. You heard footsteps down the hall and knew they were going next door to you.

The following day, you got up early for work, downed some coffee and grabbed a granola bar before slipping on your scrubs and walking to work. You were a veterinary assistant at an animal clinic a few blocks from your apartment.

You loved it, being able to help sick and injured animals. The job took a toll on you at times, especially if there were any sad diagnoses or appointments where you had to comfort a newly grieving owner, but you wouldn't change it for the world. You loved all animals (Except snakes – you were still terrified of them) and had wanted to help them from an early age.

"Morning Y/n" Dr. Thompson said from his office. 

"Morning" you grabbed the charts for the day. 

"Morning Lizzie" you said to the other assistant who arrived shortly after you. 

"Morning Y/n. Ooh, have you met your new neighbour yet?" she asked turning on the coffee maker. 

"Not yet, but maybe when I get home?"

"Let me know how it goes. I have my fingers crossed it's someone handsome and cute for you" she giggled. 

You rolled your eyes at her.

Lizzie was newly engaged and was in full wedding planning mode. Wedding magazines and her Pinterest boards were the usual topic of conversation on breaks as well as her trying to get you to be with someone since she found her person. 

"All I'm saying Y/n, is that you should date more, see who's out there. I took a chance on someone I wouldn't normally go for, and now we're engaged!" she beamed. 

"Yeah, I know. I just think that when it's the right time to meet someone, it'll happen naturally" you shrugged.

The bell on the front door of the clinic rang which was the signal your day was starting. You met with a few regulars for their annual exams, filled some prescriptions, did some supply and food inventory, weighed an adorable floofy golden retriever puppy named Winston, and assisted with a nail trim on a great dane named Smalls when it was getting time to close the clinic for the day. 

"Night Lizzie" you waved. 

"Night Y/n, I'll lock up, see you tomorrow" she called from the back supply room. 

You walked back to your apartment, enjoying the cooler autumn air when you noticed a large, black motorcycle parked in the building's parking lot. 

"Must be the new neighbour" you said out loud to yourself.

You were walking down the hall when you saw that the new neighbour's door was open. You walked to it and poked your head inside to introduce yourself. The two men who you saw moving were standing in the kitchen, each drinking a beer. 

"Um, hello?" you squeaked from the door making both of their heads turn to you. 

"I'm Y/n, from next door, your neighbour?" you quietly said looking between the two men. 

"Just thought I would say hi and introduce myself quickly." you politely smiled at them. 

God they were both gorgeous up close you thought to yourself. 

"Hi" said the blonde who made their way over to the door. 

"I'm Steve" he flashed you a warm smile. 

"That's Bucky, your new neighbour" he pointed to the brunette still standing in the kitchen. 

You noticed he had a neutral expression on his face, but he had a faint smile showing. You also noticed the sly way he scanned his crystal blue eyes over you, taking in your appearance making you blush slightly and look away. 

"Well, I don't want to keep you, I just wanted to say hello, have a good night" you left to go into your apartment. 

"Night Y/n, thanks for stopping by" Steve smiled.

"Look at that Buck, your new neighbour" Steve slyly smirked at his best friend. 

"Seems cute" he nudged Bucky in the arm. 

"Whatever, punk" Bucky mumbled then sat down on his couch. 

The two men chatted for a bit before Steve left for the night. 

"So, you're sure you'll be alright here?" he asked from the doorway. 

"Positive. I'm looking forward to being on my own again, away from the drama and stress. I need this, Steve." Bucky said from his hallway. 

"I know you do. Call me whenever you want to, and I'll be here". Steve patted Bucky's arm while he opened the door. 

"If you're bored, I'm sure the nice nurse lady from next door would keep you company" he winked. 

"Jeez Steve." Bucky grimaced trying to hide the light blush creeping in on his cheeks while the door closed.

The next week was about the same, get up, have a quick breakfast, then walk to work, come home, supper, relax, and do it all over again. You were a quiet person and rarely went out anymore, but you didn't mind. Your friends understood you liked being at home and they always included you in group chats and texts in case you changed your mind, which was rare, but was always nice to be included. You noticed your neighbour hardly made any sound and you were loving it.

You had grabbed your lunch from the fridge and your purse and were locking your door when you noticed Bucky next to you locking up at the same time. He was dressed in dark grey workout shorts, had on a black hoodie, and black runners. 

"Morning" you lightly smiled. 

"Hi" Bucky said.

You both stood in the hallway staring at each other. 

"Well, I should get to work, have a good day" you gave a slight wave and headed for the elevator. 

"You too" Bucky turned to take the stairs down.

After an uneventful day at work, you arrived at your building and decided to check your mail when you noticed Bucky walk in and Mrs. Thomas, your nosy neighbour, step off the elevator. 

"You must be the new neighbour. I'm Mrs. Thomas from 5A, nice to meet you" she said and clapped Bucky on the back who lightly grimaced. 

"James, but everyone calls me Bucky" he smiled. 

"Well, don't be a stranger. Y/n is single and could use some company. Nice girl-needs a decent man at her side. Likes romance, can cook and bake, and is kind to animals since she's a veterinary assistant." she winked at Bucky while stepping to the front doors. 

You were officially mortified.

"Oh, I thought you were a nurse. That's nice" Bucky smiled. 

"Yeah. scrubs. Gotta love 'em" you replied with a blush. 

"Lose any patients today? Asked Mrs. Thomas. 

"No, not today" you assured her. 

Before Mrs. Thomas left, she approached Bucky, and he leaned down to listen to her. 

"She's a sensitive one, needs support now and then if there's a sad animal case she can't save" she whispered. 

Bucky nodded and lightly smiled at you. Your face was now the shade of ketchup.

"Sorry about her" you whispered. 

Bucky smiled at you and you both stepped into the elevator, which was the most uncomfortable elevator ride of your life. You both exited the elevator and Bucky walked past you to his apartment, unlocked his door and stepped in leaving you alone in the hallway with a red and sweaty face. 

"Oh my god" you quietly muttered to yourself as you unlocked your door and stepped into your apartment. 

You squeezed your temple with your fingers before heading to the bathroom to a shower.

Meanwhile, in Bucky's apartment, he had walked in and shook his head but was smiling. He thought you were cute and had wanted to get to know you better, but lately, he always felt like a bit of a loner. He had wanted to put himself out there again and date since it was a year and a half since his messy divorce, but he never knew how. 

He tried a few online dates but was scared by what he had seen. His friends would set him up on blind dates every so often, but he hated them since he never liked going into something he wasn't sure about. As he sat on his couch nursing a beer, he thought about how it wouldn't be too bad to get to know you a little and see where things would lead.

The next day at the clinic was a complete mess. It started with an emergency surgery that didn't go so well. You were in the middle of comforting the grieving owner when another emergency came in you had to assist with. This one was also not a success and as you sat with the older lady patting her back, her granddaughter came in. You watched the older lady tell her granddaughter the bad news about the cat and had to walk away because you couldn't listen to the cries and sadness. 

Your next few appointments went well, but the morning emergencies still hung over your head.

Another box of stray kittens was dropped at the clinic's door, so you called your friend at the cat shelter, and she came to pick them up. If it was a few years prior, you would have taken the box and kept the cats yourself, but you were learning over the years that every animal can't be saved, and some must be given away to others for help. It was hard, but a lesson you were trying to accept.

You walked home and entered your apartment feeling down, so you did what makes you happy – you baked your famous chewy chocolate chip cookies. You loved baking and after a stressful day, it helps you relax and calm down. You finished the batch but realized you had more than enough, so you packaged them up to give away.

You made a box for the clinic, one for yourself to keep, a small one for Mrs. Thomas, but there were still lots left. You thought about it when an idea popped into your head. You packaged up the rest of the cookies, careful not to squish any of them, and headed out your door. You walked over to Bucky's apartment and stood in the hall for a few minutes before you knocked.

He answered the door wearing a pair of grey sweatpants and a black t-shirt that fit him perfectly. You had to look away to stop from staring. 

"Um, hi" you quietly said. 

"Hi" he smiled. 

You stood there staring at each other. 

"Can I help you? Are you ok?" asked Bucky who seemed to be assessing you.

"Oh, right. Sorry, I spaced out for a minute. Here, I made some cookies and there's too much for me, so I wanted to drop some off for you" you blushed. 

"Really? For me?" asked Bucky eyeing up the box. 

"Yeah. I had a bad day at work and baking helps, so here" you handed him the box. 

"Just plain chocolate chip, no nuts in case you are allergic or anything" you smiled. 

"Thanks, and I'm not allergic to anything."  he took the box from your hands. 

"Well, goodnight" you turned back to your apartment. 

"Night" he watched you enter your apartment.

He closed his door and opened the box and inhaled the delicious, sweet scent of the treats. He hasn't had homemade cookies for a long time. His ex-wife never cooked or baked and before that, his mom would make him things from time to time, but she has since passed so homemade cookies were never around. 

As he was digging into the box, savouring the cookies, he couldn't help but replay your words in his head. You had a bad day at work which means you were upset and sad. He felt like a jerk for taking the box and not asking if you were ok. He walked over to your apartment and knocked on your door.

You opened it and saw him standing there with a worried look on his face.

"Are the cookies not good?" you looked at him. Bucky’s gut clenched at your concerned face. He was screwing this up!

"Huh? Oh, no, they're fine, delicious actually".

You smiled proudly. 

"You said you had a bad day at work, so I just wanted to see if you were ok?" he asked lightly blushed. 

"Oh, yeah...was a hard one but I'm ok. Want to come in?" you asked. 

"Ok" he stepped into your apartment. 

You motioned for him to sit on your couch. You told him about your day, and he seemed genuinely concerned while you let out a few tears. 

"Sorry, I get sad talking about it" you said and grabbed a Kleenex, wiping your eyes. 

"It's ok, it just means you care" he patted your arm gently. 

The two of you talked for the rest of the night. You learned Bucky was a security guard, was divorced, liked to read books, and go for rides on his motorcycle.

By the time Bucky left, you had a smile on your face and felt better about your day. He was a good listener, funny, smart, and kind; all the qualities that you admire in a partner. You shook your thoughts from your daydream as you thought there's no way someone like him would be interested in someone like you, you thought to yourself.

Meanwhile, Bucky got back to his apartment and decided he needed to text Steve about the thoughts he was having.

It was Saturday and you were excited to finally relax and put the week behind you. You had gotten up early and were about to leave for the market when you heard loud thumping on your door. You looked through the peephole and saw it was Bucky, so you opened the door. 

"Bucky, what's going on?" you asked, looking at him with concern. 

His eyes were slightly wild, and he was a little twitchy. 

"Hey, I really don't know where else to go, can I come in?"

"Ok?"

He came into your apartment and sat down on your couch. 

"Bucky, what's wrong? You're worrying me a little".

He reached into his leather jacket and pulled out a kitten. 

"Oh, my goodness, what do you have there?"

You took the tiny creature from him and snuggled it close to you. 

"Ah, yeah. I went to go for an early morning ride and noticed this little furball on the seat of my bike. I didn't really know what to do so I scooped it up and brought it here thinking you would know what to do. I can't leave it and I want to make sure it's healthy, and ok?" he watched you interact with it. 

You took the kitten to your kitchen counter and wanted to do a quick exam on it. 

"It's a female" you said smiling down at her. 

She was all white, a little dirty, and had bright blue eyes and a long slightly fluffy tail, pink toe pads you referred to as "toe beans" which made Bucky smile, and razor-sharp nails that desperately needed a trim.

You were not a vet by any means, but you knew enough to do a basic exam on the fluffball with Bucky joining you at your side. You picked up and held the kitten and noticed she was a little skinny and slightly malnourished, her eyes were healthy, as were her ears which was a good thing. Bucky watched you hold her and check her over further and he had to hide the smile from his face. He also started feeling butterflies in his stomach too, a feeling he hasn't had for a long time, something he spoke with Steve about the previous night.

You were so gentle with her, patient, and kind, cooing at her to calm her down which was working. He could see how you loved animals and was more at ease knowing you would be able to take care of the kitten, or at least know what to do with it. 

"I think I'll give her a bath, she's a little dirty from being on the street”.

You handed Bucky the kitten and walked to your bathroom to grab some gentle foaming body wash and a facecloth. You went back to the sink and filled the bottom with lukewarm water. 

"Here, let me". You took her from Bucky's hands, brushing your hands with his, causing heat to rise to your face. 

"Sorry" you mumbled. 

"S'ok" he smiled.

You placed the kitten in the sink and washed her all over, rinsing the fur and cleaning any stuck-on dirt away. She was curious at first, but then quickly realized she wanted no part of the water and kept trying to escape and was mewing loudly. Bucky stood next to you and held her firmly so you could scrub the kitten and rinse her off. Seeing Bucky interact with the small kitten melted your heart as he was being so gentle and kind with her. When you were done. You grabbed a fluffy hand towel and wrapped her in it, drying her off.

"What do we do now?" asked Bucky who was watching you cuddle the kitten. 

"Well, she'll need some food, water, and a safe place."

"I can do that"

"Do you want to keep her?"

He never really thought about having a pet. His ex-wife was allergic to dogs and cats, but he had them growing up. 

"If not, I could call my friend who runs an animal shelter. She can take her and put her up for adoption if you don't want her. She doesn't have a collar, no tattoo, or markings of any kind so I think it's safe to say she's a stray."

Bucky thought about it, and he didn't like the fact that someone else could take her. 

"I can keep her" he softly said. 

"Ok, Daddy, she's all yours. Think of a name. I can keep her here while you shop for supplies" you said smiling. 

Bucky's stomach fluttered at the daddy remark. 

"Ok. Y/n, can you make me a list of what I need?" asked Bucky. 

You made your way over to the kitchen and started writing down the supplies he would need. 

"Oh, and if you can, come by the clinic so we can get her properly looked at, some shots, and set up an appointment for a spay" you smiled at Bucky. 

"Got it". He took the list from you and went to the door. 

"We'll be here when you get back" you smiled proudly.

Bucky left the apartment, and you heard his bike start up a few minutes later. You kept the kitten close to you as she snuggled down in your warmth and closed her eyes. A few hours later, you heard a knock at your door and saw Bucky on the other side, so you answered it. 

"Hi" he said smiling brightly. 

"Hi." 

"She still doing ok?" asked Bucky as he walked in, looking for his newest friend.

"Of course, we were just reading. She's pretty chill for a kitten" you chuckled lightly making Bucky's heart melt at the sound. 

As soon as the kitten heard Bucky, she came running up to him and meowed loudly at his feet. 

"I think you're her favourite" you said and smiled. 

Bucky smiled proudly as he bent down to pick up the kitten and cradle her in his large arms. 

"Come with me, I'll show you your new home." he whispered in her ear. 

"Want to come with us?" he asked. 

"Ok". You followed them next door.

You walked into Bucky's apartment, and he had everything set up for the new kitten. You noticed some toys, food dishes, a scratching post, and litter box ready to go. He even moved an old chair by the window so she could curl up in it and fall asleep in the sun while looking outside. 

"Nice set up" you said approving of the items Bucky had bought. 

He let go of the kitten and she went off exploring. 

"Thought of a name yet?" you asked while sitting down on a stool at his kitchen counter. 

"Not sure" he thought about it. 

"I'm thinking something to do with snow or winter since she's all white" you smiled as the kitten walked by and jumped up on the back of the couch looking between the two of you. 

"How about Alpine?" asked Bucky as the kitten let out a soft mew at the name. 

"Think she likes it. Well, I should go. Make sure to stop by the clinic soon" you reminded Bucky. 

"Sure will" said Bucky as you left.

The next day, you were filling out some charts when you were called into an exam room for assistance. You walked into exam room three and saw Bucky. 

"Hey Y/n" he smiled proudly as he held Alpine. 

"Hey Bucky, Hi Alpine". You scratched the kitten on the head who proceeded to gently swat at your hand. 

"Dr. Thompson is the best!"

You created a new chart and weighed Alpine. 

Dr. Thompson walked in and proceeded to start the exam. You were right, nothing else was wrong with the kitten apart from being slightly on the smaller side, but she was healthy considering. He gave her shots and told you to schedule a spay in the coming months.

The exam finished and you walked Bucky and Alpine back to the waiting room. Lizzie saw the two of you and couldn't wipe the smile off her face. 

"Thanks for seeing us." Bucky watched you file his chart. 

He blushed as you smiled back at him. 

"Of course. See you both later".

"See you!" he smiled before closing the door. 

"Who was THAT? And tell me more!" beamed Lizzie. 

"That was my new neighbour and his new kitten" you smiled and lightly blushed. 

"Uh huh..." Lizzie smirked. 

"What?"

"Nothing". She winked at you. 

"He's my neighbour, nothing more" you calmly stated. 

"Right, and I'm a natural blonde" she snorted and left the waiting room. 

You blushed and were able to finish the day without any issues.

You walked back to your building and were about to step into your apartment when Bucky opened his door and peeked his head into the hallway. 

"Hey Y/n, want to have dinner with us?" he asked and held out Alpine in the hallway Lion King style. 

"Oh, um, ok?" you giggled at the sight. 

"Can I shower first? A dog threw up on my feet at the last appointment and I feel kind of gross from that. 

"Of course. Come over anytime, we'll be here" he smiled pulling Alpine close to him. 

You chuckled and walked into your apartment. After your shower, you got dressed into some comfy clothes and made your way to Bucky's. 

You knocked on the door and you could hear "door's open" from inside so you opened it up and walked in. 

You saw Bucky in the kitchen opening some Chinese take out containers and offering you a seat at the counter while handing you chopsticks. 

"This is lovely" you examined the containers. 

"Wasn't sure what to get, so I ordered a variety" he said handing you a plate. 

"It all looks delicious. Lee's is my favourite place to order Chinese from." You bit into a dumpling.

You watched as he filled his plate with the food and sat down next to you at the counter. You told him how the rest of your day went and asked about his first night with Alpine. He said the night went good and Alpine likes to snuggle close to his neck to keep warm. Your heart melted as you imagined the large man snuggled into his bed with his tiny kitten as his scarf, making you smile at the thought. You both finished the food and Bucky was cleaning up. 

"Thanks for supper".

"No problem. It was the least I could do as a thank you for helping me with Alpine" he said as he helped you off the stool. 

You both stood there staring at each other, noticing Bucky's eyes move to your lips then back up to your eyes.

Alpine sauntered over and stood in-between you, letting out a loud mew looking between Bucky and you. You laughed and scooped her up, nuzzling her close to you. 

"Well, I should go. Don't want to keep you from bonding with your new friend". You put her back down. 

"Wait, stay with us and watch a movie" he asked as you took a few steps to the door. 

"Oh, ok" you shrugged your shoulders and went to sit on his couch.

You watched a movie with Bucky sitting next to you and Alpine curled up on his lap. Every so often he would put his arm across the back of the couch, lightly brushing your hair, giving you goosebumps at his touch. Alpine moved over to the chair by the window and was curled up on that, sleeping contently. 

The movie ended and Bucky turned the TV off. 

"Well, thanks for the movie too, I guess I owe you one". You nudged his leg with yours. 

"Name the time and place, and it's a date" he smiled. 

Your face went red, and you looked down, feeling a little embarrassed. 

"What? I can't help it if I want to take you out on a date. What do you think? Y/n, do you want to go out with me?" asked Bucky. 

He wasn't sure where the sudden boldness came from, but he wasn't complaining. 

"I would like that" you smiled. 

He smiled back as you got up from the couch. 

"I should go but let me know when you want to go out. I'm free anytime."

"Noted".

He walked you to his door.

As you grabbed the handle, he turned you around, so you were facing him. He took a step closer to you and you were able to breathe in his scent, that reminded you of pine and citrus. He leaned in and gave you a kiss on your cheek before wrapping you up in his arms. 

"Thanks for everything" he whispered rubbing his hands gently up and down your back. 

"It was no problem." You hugged him tightly back.

#neighbor!bucky #bucky au

[sj-ficrecs]

Kiss Cam

Bucky A/U

Summary: You and the guys head to a hockey game. Your friend Bucky has been wanting to ask you out. A nudge comes from an unexpected surprise.

Content Warning: Fluffff to the fluffiest degree I can't think of anything else? Consent for participating in a kiss cam? Sheesh....

"Ok, it's all set. No changing your minds; tickets have been bought."

You closed your laptop lid and smiling brightly at the room. 

"Awesome, looking forward to it" Steve said. He got up from the couch and got himself another beer.

You were neighbours with Steve in your apartment building. He moved in a few months after you did. He introduced himself to you when he was lugging boxes down the hallway, and you had an armful of groceries you were carrying. Steve saw your struggles and instantly stopped his moving to help you, making you blush at his politeness and manners. 

Shortly after your first encounter with your new polite neighbour, you and he became fast friends. You had to become fast friends since the day his best friend Bucky mistakenly knocked on your door and barged into your apartment thinking it was Steve's.

Flashback

Bucky was looking for his friend's apartment one afternoon and he ended up pounding on your door thinking it was Steve's. The hallways and doors were getting re-painted, so the unit numbers were temporarily removed. Bucky had thought he counted the correct number of doors from the staircase, but he must have counted wrong and ended up knocking on your door.

When you answered it, you were taken aback from the handsome man standing in front of you. His bright blue eyes sparkled a little when you raised your eyebrows at him in question wondering who this man could be. He smiled and walked into your apartment, like he lived there. You were shocked and were about to dial the police when he started talking loudly thinking his friend was in another room. 

"Steve, my apartment building is a dump. Landlord still hasn't fixed the bathroom sink and the hallways are always dirty. I hope your landlord calls me soon" he said walking into your kitchen making himself at home. 

Ah, Steve, this must be a friend of his you thought to yourself. You were able to figure out he wasn't just a random crazy walking into your apartment looking to harm you. Your fingers on your phone relaxed since you no longer felt the need to call the police, but you kept it close to you just in case.

When he realized no one replied to him, he looked around and instantly knew he wasn't in his friend's apartment. You smiled at him and raised your eyebrows and put your hand on your hip waiting for him to speak. 

"Oh my god, this isn't Steve's!" he panicked looking around your apartment, and his eyes were huge. 

He put his hands up to say he wasn't a threat, but you just laughed at him. 

"I'm guessing you're looking for Steve, my neighbour who lives there?" you pointed to your living room wall, and he nodded. 

"Yeah, he lives next door" you said and moved away from the hallway so your handsome intruder could walk to the door.

"I am so sorry about that. I had thought I counted the doors correctly" he said as he was leaving. 

You saw Steve stick his head out from his apartment and lean against the frame. 

"Hey Bucky, I see you've met Y/n, my neighbour" he joked, as his friend's face was red. 

You laughed. 

"I counted wrong" he mumbled with his head down. 

"Hi Bucky, nice to officially meet you" you said as he hastily left your apartment and walked over to Steve. 

"I really am sorry. I just thought Steve had a new friend over" he looked down at the ground. 

"It's quite alright. No harm done. Anyone who is a friend of Steve's is safe in my eyes" you assured him. 

"Still doesn't make it ok though" he muttered, and Steve slapped his friend on his arm. 

"Owe!" Bucky rubbed the sting away.

"You're a punk. Thanks for not calling the cops Y/n".

"No problem" you assured them. 

"Sorry again" Bucky said and left the hallway with you smiling to yourself. 

The next day, you received a large bouquet of flowers and a note from Bucky saying he was sorry for scaring you and hoped you didn't think he was a creep which made you laugh.

End of flashback

That was six months ago, and you were now good friends with both Steve and Bucky. Bucky lived a few apartments away from you and was still on a waiting list to get into your building. Their friend Sam also lived a few blocks away, but he was fine where he lived and only came by to hang out. You referred to them as "the guys' and you loved hanging out with them.

You weren't your typical girl where some of your friends liked dressing up, shopping, wearing a lot of makeup, and going to clubs, you preferred staying home, watching sports, drinking beer, and eating pizza. That's probably why you fit in nicely with Steve and his friends. After you met Bucky, him and Steve would invite you over to watch TV, sports, or just to have dinner. You baked for them and often shared some of your supper with Steve on nights where he didn't feel like cooking. Steve was like a brother to you, and you liked the friendship you were both developing. Bucky on the other hand, the more you got to know him, the flirtier he got with you.

He would wink and smile broadly at you, making comments about your hair or looks which caused you to blush like crazy. He was tall, had dark chestnut hair that was neatly trimmed, slight scruff on his face, broad shoulders, and the bluest eyes you ever saw. He was quite the looker, but you always told yourself he was flirty with everyone, and he would never go for someone like you. 

Whenever you went on dates, you always got friend zoned because you fit in like "one of the guys" and guys were usually intimidated by your knowledge of sports as they mostly stared blankly at you while you spoke about a play, player, or penalty. When you finished, they usually nodded and went back to sipping their beer while you shrugged your shoulders and continued watching the game.

You hadn't been on a date in forever and forget about kissing anyone, you were certain you were going to turn into a cat lady by the time you turned 30 which was coming up very soon. You just got used to being single over time and left the dating world alone due to being ghosted or added as another 'good friend' after a first date.

You and the guys had decided on going to a hockey game. After bickering about what game to see and going over everyone's work schedules, you settled on a game that was the following Friday. You had purchased the tickets for everyone, and they would pay you back, with Steve already sending you your virtual payment. Sam and Bucky had said they would send their money to you the following day on their pay day, so you nodded and got up from the couch. 

"I think I'm going to go to bed. Night guys" you said as you walked to Steve's kitchen with your laptop and empty beer bottle. 

"Night Y/n" Sam saluted you from his recliner.

"See ya guys".

Bucky came bounding down the hall and was grinning at you. 

"Let me walk you". You gave him a funny look. 

"Buck, It's literally right next door, I'll be fine like always". You opened the door and looked at him funny. 

"I insist" he ushered you out. 

He had been doing this for a while now and it always made you shake your head, but you let him do it. Steve and Sam were smirking from behind, but you didn't see. The two of them talked to each other at great length about the crush Bucky had on you and how you were both fighting your feelings.

Bucky's feelings for you were growing the more time you spent together. He was slowly working up the courage to ask you out, but he didn't want to screw things up. 

"There, nice and safe".

You both stood outside your door as he smirked at you, and you rolled your eyes. 

"Ok, goodnight, Bucky". You flashed him a smile. 

He nearly melted but managed to compose himself. 

"Goodnight, Y/n". Bucky gave you an awkward hug. 

Over the past few months, Bucky had been touching and hugging you more, making you flustered. He was a good hugger and was always warm, making you melt into his touch, but you always thought he was just being nice. 

"Night". You closed the door with a grinning Bucky on the other side of it.

As Bucky walked back to Steve's, he grabbed himself another beer and sat down on the couch.

"When you gonna ask her out?" Sam asked as he stared at his friend. 

Bucky blushed and took a sip of his beer. 

"You should do it soon" Steve called from the kitchen and Bucky only winced at him. 

He had wanted to ask you out the moment he left your apartment when he first met you, but he was scared. You had a cool vibe to you that didn't scream high maintenance and Bucky liked your sarcastic sense of humour. He thought you and him would be perfect together, but he was terrified of changing the dynamics of your friendship. 

"Yeah yeah". He rolled his eyes as they watched the next game that came on.

It was the night of the hockey game and you had all decided to take the subway to get to the arena at the same time. Steve and Sam walked ahead of you and Bucky was walking next to you, making sure you were safe in the large crowd. He would put his hand on your lower back if things got too crowded and he even put his arm around your shoulder to keep you closer to him, making you snuggle into his side as you stood waiting in the crowd. Times like these, it gave you butterflies but you reminded yourself it was Bucky, and he was your friend. You shouldn't have any crushes on him you always told yourself. He just wanted to be friends and nothing more and he just so happened to have nice manners and was polite you always told yourself.

You made your way to the arena and then to your seats. The arena was crowded as the two teams facing each other were rivals. You had on your team sweater and the guys had on their various team gear while you secretly wished you could wear Bucky's hoodie since it looked so worn and comfortable. 

Wait, where did that come from? 

You had to lightly shake your head at the mental image while the teams took to the ice and started their warmup drills.

Steve bought you a beer while Bucky bought you popcorn you and he could share. 

"Where's my popcorn?" asked Sam and Bucky scowled at him. 

"Get your own" he swatted Sam's hand from the bucket. 

Bucky moved the bucket closer to you as you reached over and took your pieces smiling brightly at Bucky. Every time you smiled at Bucky; his heart would flutter like crazy. Sam rolled his eyes knowing he wasn't going to get any popcorn and went back to chatting with Steve.

The odd time yours and Bucky's hands would touch reaching for the snack, and Bucky was always the first one to pull his hand away and blush lightly. You smiled at him every so often while you cheered on your team. Bucky didn't really pay attention to the game as he was so nervous you were sitting next to him, crammed tightly into the arena seats, your legs were practically rubbing together all night making him a sweaty mess.

The game was into the third period and your team was up by a few goals. You were enjoying the sights and sounds of the arena when Sam reached over and tapped you on the shoulder. He pointed to the scoreboard hanging in the middle of the arena and it was the start of the kiss cam. You smiled and laughed at the fans they had on and were enjoying watching the show along with Bucky. When the camera switched and you saw your faces on the screen, you moved back in your seat with a shocked expression on your face.

Bucky instantly went red and giggled while you sat there, trying to escape your seat. The people behind you were laughing and encouraging you on as you finally looked over at Bucky who was smiling at you. You both leaned in and gave each other a quick peck on the lips and laughed as the people around you teased. 

"Come on man, that was lame go on and kiss her" the guy behind Bucky yelled. 

"If you don't, then I will" came his buddy, causing Bucky to scowl at them then look over at you.

The camera was still on you and Bucky leaned in, grabbed your face in his hands, and planted a kiss directly on your mouth. His hands squeezed your face tightly and you returned the kiss by moving your hands to his chest so he could be closer. The crowd cheered and laughed as the camera moved onto another unsuspecting couple.

You were still kissing Bucky, so Steve nudged his friend.

"It's over now" he whispered and you both broke from each other. 

"Woah". You looked down at your lap. 

Bucky sat there grinning and had a slight blush on his cheeks. 

"Sorry about that" he whispered, and you smiled. 

"It's ok" you smiled at him.

The rest of the game was a little awkward to say the least. You weren't sure what to do with your hands and every time you caught Bucky's eye, you would both grin and look away from each other. It was like you were back at a dance in middle school all over again, unsure of what to do next and blushing like crazy that a boy was interested in you. 

Both Steve and Sam were grinning like fools at you, and they had a hard time focusing their attention on the game. You knew the dynamic of your relationship had changed, but you weren't sure what to do about it. Luckily your team won, and the arena started emptying out.

The four of you walked back to the subway, Sam and Steve were still ahead of you and Bucky was right by your side, but he had his arm snugly around you in the busy crowd. As you were waiting for your train, a group of fans came by and high fived you both and referred to you and Bucky as "the kiss cam couple" making you both laugh and blush like crazy. 

Thankfully your train pulled up and you took your seats for the ride home. Bucky sat in the small bench with you crammed next to him as the train was full of drunken fans from the game. You knew you needed to talk to him about the kiss cam incident, but you didn't know how to bring it up, especially on a cramped train with drunken sports fans all around.

When you got back to your apartment, Bucky was walking with you and Steve since Sam left to go to his. As you walked down the hall to your door, Steve went ahead and unlocked his door. 

"Goodnight you two" he said, and you blushed. 

"Night Steve" you waved as you stood in front of your door staring at Bucky. 

"Umm..." you said, and he smiled lightly

"About what happened earlier at the game..."

Bucky could sense your concern. 

Before you could finish, he blurted out "I like you Y/n" he said with a flushing face. 

You stood there staring at him blankly. 

"I've liked you since the moment I barged in here six months ago" he admitted smiling widely. 

You chuckled and shook your head at the memory. 

"I like you too" you quietly said and smiled up at him. 

He was now standing inches from you as you stood in front of your apartment door. 

"So..." 

"So..." 

You stared at each other. 

"Just kiss again!" yelled Steve from behind his door and you both giggled. 

Bucky looked at you and you smiled while he leaned down and kissed you again. 

"Finally! My friends figured it out!" came Steve's voice from his door. 

You laughed into Bucky's kiss, and he hugged you tightly. 

"I'm glad I barged my way into your heart".

You laughed. 

"Me too" you said and hugged him tightly.

[sj-ficrecs]

How's Your Head?

Pairing: Firefighter! Bucky x Paramedic! Reader

Warnings: None.

Author's Note: The gym thoughts won.

“What happened Chief?” 

Sam gives you a look, “I’m on the job so formalities only,” he cracks a smile, you roll your eyes biting back your own, “details on the injured chief where is he?” 

He tilts his head to the back of the fire truck stationed feet away, “he’s at the back of the drill truck, Rogers is keeping him talking, got his head and shoulder banged up pretty good running drills.” You hoist your bag higher on your shoulder, “take me to him.” 

You hear him before you see him, “Rogers I swear if you don’t get your damn fingers out of my face, I told you I’m fine, I’ve gotten hurt worse on the job there’s no need for all this fussin, you shouldn’t have called.” 

“And that’ll be my call to make,” you say rounding the truck finding Lieutenant Barnes sat slouched over the back, ice pack pressed to his head, Captain Rogers pressing one to his shoulder. You place the bag next to him taking over the icepack pressed to the lieutenant's shoulder. 

“I’ve got it from here Captain, you and chief are free to go.” you say excusing the two other men, they thank you letting the Lieutenant next to you know they’ll be at the station when he’s done.  

You turn to the broad-shouldered brunette sitting in front of you his posture much straighter now that his colleagues have left a glint in his eyes and a cheeky smile on his lips as he looks at you, you already know you’re in for trouble. 

“How are you feeling Lieutenant Barnes?” 

The man groans, clutching his chest in dramatics, “You wound me, I’ve told you to call me Bucky sweetheart, we’re past lieutenant Barnes at this point.” 

Your tongue pushes into your cheek, biting back the smile threatening to split your lips, “and I’m on the job lieutenant, now how are you feeling, any pain?” You question lifting the ice back from his shoulder, your fingers curling into the white top to peek at the reddened skin, a speckle of red and purple look back at you. 

“Sweetheart if you want to see me shirtless all you have to do is ask.” 

Ignoring his teasing comment, you press down on the skin softly drawing out a pained groan, “scale of one to ten what’s the pain level?” 

“I’d say an 8 but a kiss could bring it down to 1, get my mind right off of it.” 

You shake your head placing the icepack down “and how’s your head?” you continue getting right in front of him to remove the second icepack, your fingers combing softly through his hair to check for broken skin 

“I’ve had no complaints.” 

Your fingers pause in his hair, eyes meeting his amused ones, you laugh, “I meant your actual head Bucky, are you feeling pain?” 

“Will you kiss it to make it better?” 

“Bucky.” 

“What about a date,” he continues, “I’d have something other than a headache to look forward to tonight.” 

You chuckle fingers moving in his hair again, “you should be glad they called I’m pretty sure you’re suffering from a concussion.” you say examining his head again. 

His hands find the sides of your thighs, the action rendering you motionless, your fingers still in his hair again eyes finding his, “I’m actually glad they called - I got to see you.”  

He’s grinning at the smile you try so hard to hide. “C’mon sweetheart one date.” 

“If I agree to this one date, will you let me finish checking you so I have something other than your incessant flirting to report back to the chief?” 

“If you agree you can check me as thoroughly as you want sweetheart.” 

“Fine Barnes, one date, one.” you stress. 

“Oh sweetheart you and I both know it won’t only be one.” 

#firefighter!bucky #bucky au

[sj-ficrecs]

All I'll Ever Need

Pairing: Bull Rider!Bucky x Reader

Warnings: None.

Author's Note: I've been in my cowboy, bullrider funk and I needed this out! I hope you all enjoy this piece, as always happy reading! Now back to my dark cave, I go.

It’s a high live event tonight, the grounds large enough for not only the main attraction bull riding, but the other rodeo sports being held this evening. You work your way through the crowd, the boy on your hip wiggling around in hopes to get higher to spot his father over the large crowd. You hike the brown haired, grey-eyed boy higher on your hip, the excitement coursing through his tiny body as you cross the arena grounds. Natasha and Wanda had texted you minutes prior after having parked the truck that they had just barely managed to secure the four of you good seats in the stands overlooking the ground.

Squeezing your way through the masses your feet meet the stands wooden stairs, you climb them carefully till your standing on the landing looking left then right as you look for your group. “Look!” Your attention is directed by the six-year-old over to the farthest corner on the right, Wanda and Natasha waving at the two of you wildly with their hats, Bucky standing tall behind them on the iron gates.

Grant snatches the hat that matches his dad’s off his head, waving it around just as wildly as his aunts. A sharp whistle pierces the air the boy’s eyes snapping past the awaiting women to the matching pair of cerulean blue waiting for him, how he hadn’t seen his father yet surprises you, but the boy becomes a bucking bronco in your hold till you’re releasing him from your grip. His form slips from your body as he runs through the stands to where his father awaits perched.

You chase after him, excusing yourself past the other patrons already in their seats. Natasha waits for the tiny brunette who is feet ahead of you with open arms, his body falling into his aunts hold as she hoists him high, his hat surpassing the both of them as he lets out a squeal of joy. He reaches for his father next, who takes him in even stronger arms squeezing his son to his broad chest.

You nearly falter in your steps at the sight, your heart racing, body warming at the sight before you. The bond the two shared was unlike any other you had experienced. Bucky Barnes had a hard time believing he could be the father his son needed when his mother just up and left two months into Grants first year of life, but he had proven himself wrong time and time again. There’s amazement in Grants eyes and love in Buckys as he explains to his son all about the ongoing events.

You close the distance saddling up next to Natasha as you hear Bucky’s promise to Grant to take him riding for the first time this week that he had off. “I’m all your’s bud, whaddya say? Uncle Steve and Sam can help too, aunt Wanda and Natasha can bring your favorite snacks.”

“Can y/n come too daddy, can she!” Bucky’s eyes find yours, pink lips curling into a breathtaking smile. “Of course she can bud,” he replies eyes never leaving yours, “that’s of course if she wants, think she might need a break from us boys bud, you’ve get her chasing you all day.”

Your lips curl in return, “I haven’t missed one of his firsts yet Barnes, don’t plan on doing so anytime soon. You can count me in, besides there’s no one I love to chase more.” A squeal of joy erupts from the smaller long-haired brunette and you’re just barely moving forward to catch his form as he jumps at you, his hat knocking yours clean off your head. Small but mighty arms wrap around your neck, his round cheeks smushing against yours as he thanks you profusely, promising you bouts of fun. Bouts of fun that you knew no matter what would be delivered. You’d spend the rest of your days with the Barnes boys if life itself allowed it.

The world melts away in the hug, your focus solely on the boy in your arms as you squeeze him just as tightly to you. “You going to show your dad how it’s done, how the real cowboys ride?” you question in a teasing tone as you pull back to look at the boy. The excitement he lets out draws a laugh from your group, “he’s going to be a hell of a lot better than I am that’s for sure.” Bucky chuckles, your eyes find his, “If he is, it���s only because he has a pretty awesome father to thank, give yourself credit B, you’re doing an amazing job with little man here.”

You don’t think you’ll ever tire catching the moments Bucky goes bashful under your gaze, the only sign that the man before you could feel the same, well as for what your friend's turned family all say. The brunette goes to reply but Steve is calling for him over his shoulder; his turn was coming around. You wave at the bearded dirty-blonde, grant following suit the hat coming too as he waves it around. You move forward into Bucky’s space to say your goodbye’s, grants arms going around his father as he gives him a tight squeeze. When the two pull away you fall in next, your arm that isn’t holding grant going around Bucky’s back, “you better be safe out there B,” you murmur into his ear, “you’ve got a little one that’s going to be watching your every move.” His chuckle rumbles deep within his chest, fingers curling tighter into your skin as he squeezes you much like his son, “is he the only one that’s going to be watching me ride tonight?”

The pinch you deliver to Bucky’s back has the broad-shouldered brunette pulling back that same chuckle bubbling out of his chest this time. “don’t be a smart-ass B, I’m being serious be safe out there.” His hand finds yours fingers curling with your own, lips meeting your intertwined fingers, “riding bulls is in my blood sweetheart you know I’ll be careful.”

“James Buchanan Barnes I’m being serious.”

His grin is heart melting as he pulls you and Grant back in, squeezing the two of you before placing a kiss to the side of your head. “I promise, I’m coming out of those gates to you.” His words stall your heart, but you tell yourself he’s not coming for you, he’s coming for the son you hold, his boy, his whole world. You let him go with Grant yelling for his dad to be careful, Bucky sends him a wave over his shoulder as he moves over to the gates Steve and Sam wait for him by. You take your seat between Natasha and Wanda settling Grant on your legs as you let him watch the current rider burst through the farthest Gate. Grant is lost in the show, his eyes bright as he watches the rider hold strong to the bull.

“Don’t know how much more proof you need.” Your eyes flit over to the blonde sitting next to you, “proof?” you question. A smile pulls at the corners of her mouth, “yeah, proof to see that that man by those gates is just as taken with you as you are with him.” You snort eyes gliding over to said man that stands at the farthest bucking chute awaiting his turn. There’s a snorting angry bull just below him, but his eyes are on you, your retort gets stuck on your tongue. Steve’s passing him his protective headgear an exchange for the hat he wore on his head. He sends you a final wink before placing the helmet on and falling over the bull who only bucks harder with his added weight.

Your heart races away in your chest as you watch him get into position, one hand going just above his head as the other laces its way around the rope tied to the bull. A buzzer goes off somewhere in the air, the gate slams open the bull racing out. Grants high on his feet as he watches his dad, fingers curled around the railing as he watches. You didn’t even notice the boy crawl off your lap your own breath caught in your throat as you watch that bull buck for his life to get Bucky off of him. Just 8 seconds you think as you push to your feet standing behind grant, just 8 seconds, hold on, hold on, hold on....

The air is electric as the buzzer goes off, patrons flying from seats to cheer Bucky on just as he falls from the bull, the clowns running in to get him out. Grant can hardly wait to get to his father once he’s getting out of the main arena. He’s grabbing your hand pulling, barely giving you a chance to tell the girls where you’re going, though they already know.

You follow the brown-haired boy as he tugs your through the stands, getting you two down on the ground before racing his way to where he knows he’ll find his dad and uncles. The crowd on the dirt ground clears, Grant seeing Bucky ways ahead laughing with his uncles. His hand falls away from yours the boy barreling with all his might towards the three men his fathers names falling from his lips to grab his attention. The three men turn to the barreling boy, Bucky moving forward to meet his boy halfway.

You slow your steps watching the two reunite Bucky lifting Grant in the air as he pulls his son in. Natasha and Wanda catch up to you, linking their arms with yours as they pull you forward. Steve and Sam move also, your group, your family moving closer as you close the distance. Hugs are shared as you finally greet Sam and Steve, “good to see you sweetheart!” Steve greets as he pulls you in for a hug

You pinch Steve in the ribs as if you hadn’t seen him earlier in the morning when you went to help Bucky with a still sleeping Grant. “You saw me this morning Steve,” you laugh, “it’s good to see you too though.”

“Move it over Rogers, favorite coming through,” Sam says as he pulls the bearded blonde coming in for a hug of his own. A wet kiss is pressed to your cheek, “Sammy,” you breathe squeezing the man just as tight, “always so good to see you!” Sam's grinning, "see," he tells the group, "favorite." Wanda moves in when you pull away her lips finding Sam's, "everyone knows Grant is y/n's favorite," she laughs as she pulls away, "but you're mine." Your group coo's at the two, Steve holding Nat under his arm, Sam holding Wanda, "Grant's not the only Barnes that y/n favors," Natasha grins.

You want to roll your eyes at her attempt, but the strong arm falling over your shoulder has you biting your tongue. You look over at the bearded brunette who's already looking right back at you, holding the bright boy who holds your heart, "good thing she's our favorite too." You could out yourself now to the man holding you protectively under his arm but you bite your tongue instead leaning further into his touch. His lips find the side of your head, "we should go catch the rest of the rides," Steve mentions, "we've gotta go check the trailers locked though," Bucky answers.

"Why don't you and y/n go check," Natasha offers, already moving forward to grab Grant, "we'll stop at the concessions first, save y’all a seat." They leave you no space for argument as Natasha urges your group to go, "see you in a bit," she calls over her shoulder, "take all the time you need!"

You inwardly groan at their antics, Bucky chuckles pulling you with him, "C'mon sweetheart, let's go check that trailer." You let him whisk you along the arena grounds, the feeling of being under his arm all consuming, it felt right, it felt like the two of you belonged, though there was never a moment in the years that you've know Bucky that being with him didn't feel right.

Then why couldn't it have been you?

Why her?

"You know," Bucky starts suddenly as he turns you towards the lot that holds the trailers, "you really are our favorite." You glance up at him smile on your lips as you continue to walk further into the lot, "that so B?"

He nods, the corner of his mouth ticking up in a smile, "how could you not be," he answers, "know you almost my whole life, you've stuck with me through it all even those moments you didn't need to, seen me at my worst and never thought to hell with this and walked away from me because nothing was tying you to me. If anything you grabbed my hand held tight and dragged me from the fire and Grant, god with Grant - I - I could never express how grateful I am for you, you took up a responsibility you didn't ask for, helped me raise a boy that wasn't yours. You never gave up on us."

You're glad you've come up to his trailer because his words have you halting in your step, your body stopping his from going any further. You turn to face him, "And I would do it all over if I had to," you respond with conviction, "you, Grant, you both mean the world to me. There's nothing you could ask of me that I wouldn't do for you. For either of you. You've been my best friend for years, stood with me as well when I needed you." He shakes his head the two of you knowing that statement isn't all true especially when Dolores had been in the picture, but you couldn't bring yourself to blame him, not now, not then. He was in love, and he thought she was too. He thought she was the one, you all did.

"I could have been better to you, after all you've done for me, for us."

You're shaking your head in return, your hand coming up to rest against his stubbled cheek. An act you've done before that feels so different now. "You were what I needed when I needed you to be B, I was in no position to ask more of you. All I knew was that when the time came I wanted to return that favor, I wanted to be what you needed." It falls silent between the two of you, eyes locked on one another in a gaze that you aren't sure you'd ever say Bucky Barnes would look at you with.

Strong warm hands come up to cup your cheeks, your breath is stolen in a moment. "Sweetheart - you're all I ever needed, I just didn't think I deserved someone like you, but the more time I spend with you, the more time I see you with Grant - I want to be that someone, I don't want to waste anymore time just being your friend."

You've lost count of how often Bucky has left you speechless, so you do what you've only ever dreamed of doing. Curling your fingers into the lapels of his shirt, you tug him closer, your lips finding his in an all-consuming kiss.

You didn't want to waste any more time either.

#does this count as athlete bucky? #bucky x reader #bucky au #bull rider!bucky

[sj-ficrecs]

Faking It

Pairing: College Athlete!Bucky x Reader

Summary: Bucky Barnes was in love with his girl—disgustingly, annoyingly so. Enough to start fights on the ice just to make sure he saw her after a game.

Word count: 3k

Warnings: This is FLUFF!! With HOCKEY MAN

a/n:​​​ This was originally something completely different but then I hated it so now it's all fluff and now I do not hate it. Pleaseeeee let me know what you think and if you enjoy it!! I love you thanks for reading ❤️❤️❤️

Masterlist

~~

“Jesus Christ, Buck. Again?” 

Bucky grinned, split lip tightening uncomfortably. When he turned to his captain, he had the gall to act oblivious. “What do you mean, captain?” 

Steve gave him a disapproving look. “Give it up, pal. There was no need to pick a fight with that guy and you know it.” 

“He was talking shit about the team!” 

“They’ll always be a player talking shit about the team.” 

“Then why’re you breathing down my neck right now, huh? We won. Be happy, Cap,” Bucky encouraged, slinging an arm over his shoulder. Steve raised a brow back at him but was clearly fighting back a smirk. Bucky could tell by the way his eyes lifted, contrasting his deep—albeit fake—frown. 

In truth, Bucky had been looking for a fight. He’d been looking for a plethora of fights since the start of the season, and was usually quite successful with his venture. It had garnered him quite the reputation, but where the crowd saw it as a short-fuse on a large man, Steve saw it for what it really was. 

An opportunity to see you. 

And while Steve could appreciate the dedication, it made one of his best players ride out unnecessary time in the penalty box. 

“I am happy. Just not with you,” Steve clarified, knocking Bucky’s arm away. 

Bucky let out a sound close to a scoff. “Even with my extra time in the sin bin I still helped carry. It’s just part of the game, Steve. Gotta protect the team’s pride.” 

“Yeah,” Steve drawled sarcastically, stopping in front of the locker room doors. “I’m sure that was your reasoning. What was it last game? Someone said something about your ma?” 

“Hey, he did.” 

“They always do.”

Heavy footsteps created a commotion in the hall, the rest of the team finally catching up with the pair. They funneled their way into the room for showers and a fresh change of clothes, and Steve stood with his crossed arms leaning against the wall, somehow still directing an admonishing look towards Bucky amidst the crowd. Bucky did his best to look baffled by the unspoken accusation, but then Sam Wilson passed by and Bucky’s ploy was disintegrated. 

“Hey man,” Sam greeted, slapping a friendly hand against Bucky’s arm as he passed. “You let someone beat the shit out of you again so you could go see your girl?” 

Bucky’s scoff returned, but this time Steve was having none of it. He kicked off of the wall and went to follow the rest of the team into the locker room. Bucky watched with a grimace, not only caught, but put on display.

“You know,” Steve called over his shoulder, not expecting Bucky to follow. “You’re dating the girl now. You don’t gotta keep up with this whole schtick.” 

“I don’t have a schtick,” he called back. At the responding laugh from Steve, Bucky yelled, “I don’t!” but no one was listening to him. Or believing him. 

But fine. If his schtick involved you, in any capacity, Bucky would admit to having one. 

Some of what Steve said was right. Bucky was dating you now. You were his girl and that would imply total access to you all the time, whenever he wanted. He didn’t need to pick fights or feign injuries anymore (the latter never really worked anyways), because he had a key to your apartment. And you were in his bed more weekends than not. 

But, damn, were you busy right now. 

Bucky had never really considered how much schooling went into becoming a physical therapist until he met you. You were typically swamped with papers and tests and requests from Dr. Cho, but this past month had been exponentially worse thanks to finals. He had seen you about once a week if he was lucky, and that was a generous estimation. Add your crazy schedule to the alarming amount of away games he had over the past few weeks and he was champing at the bit to see you. 

Bucky just prayed it was you in the training room today and not Dr. Cho. His odds were pretty favorable considering the team’s main trainer didn’t usually stick around after games if there were no major injuries, but there was always the off chance she let her interns go home early. But, knowing you, you would be in that room until the rink lights went off. 

God, he loved you. Every overworked, high-strung bit of you. 

He even loved the scolding look you shot him as he pushed open the training room doors, his bruises and cuts on full display. You dropped the pen you were tapping against an overflowing notebook and rocketed out of your rolling stool, and Bucky adored the way you stomped over to him, biting the inside of your cheek to stop the curse you clearly wanted to let free. 

“Hey, baby,” Bucky smiled, this time ignoring the sting in his lip. “Funny seeing you here.” 

You huffed, bringing careful fingers up to his chin. “Not very funny,” you mumbled. “Not when you look like someone hit you with their car.” 

Bucky let you fuss for a moment, following your touch as you turned his head back and forth and examined his split knuckles. This was your job, so obviously he let you do it, but he enjoyed watching you. So he didn’t stop you from lifting his jersey up to inspect his middle, because how else would he catch the cute way you scrunch your nose up in concentration? If he pulled his hands away when you started testing the range of motion in his wrists, when else would he be able to track your lips as you softly counted and mouthed gentle confirmations? 

Never. Because you were so damn busy. 

“Missed you,” Bucky said after sneaking a kiss on your forehead while you were prodding at the bruise on his collarbone. “I’ve been missing you a lot.” 

You let a small smile interrupt the disgruntlement on your face. Bucky grinned at the change, pressing another kiss to your hair while he still could. 

“Did you miss me enough to send a right hook into that guy’s jaw?” 

“Yes.” 

Your smile was gone again. Now you looked aghast. “Bucky.” 

“What?” he exclaimed, sliding his torn hands from your healing ones to wrap you in his embrace. “You want me to lie instead? Okay, fine. No, sweetheart, I didn’t start a fight just to have an excuse to see you. That guy got all these punches in on me because I’m out of practice, is all. I don’t think about you every waking second of my life, and while we’re at it, no I did not use your shampoo this morning because I miss how—”

“Okay, okay,” you laughed, resting your forehead on the divot in his chest. “I get it. Thanks for being truthful.” 

Bucky relished in the feel of you. He had been slightly worried that his state would cause you to be more upset than anything. If you weren’t so tired right now, there was a high chance you’d be yelling at him because of his recklessness instead of resting against his chest. So Bucky jumped at the opportunity, trailing one of his hands up to cup the back of your head. He craned his neck down, burying his face into the juncture of your neck. 

He hadn’t been lying about the shampoo. 

“I miss you too. Even if you act like an idiot sometimes,” you mumbled against his jersey. 

Something in Bucky felt lighter, warm. “Acting like an idiot’s the only way I get to see my girl.” 

You hummed. “Sorry ‘m so busy.” 

You had to be exhausted. Not even a single reprimand had tumbled from your mouth. Bucky had expected at least three. 

“When’s the last time you slept, baby?” Bucky kept his voice low, his thumb making unconscious circles against your hair. 

“I don’t know. In the night.” 

“Okay, thanks smart ass.” Bucky jostled you a bit until your eyes met his. “I meant when did you last take a break? Get a good night’s sleep?” 

You sighed, gaze trailing over his face. “Let me fix you up. Then we can play twenty questions.” 

“Baby—”

“No, Buck, this is the training room, if you haven’t noticed,” you quipped, stepping back and rifling through a few drawers. “Take a seat and I’ll fix you. That’s my job.” 

“Well, what about my job?” he grumbled back. 

“You have failed at your job. Your job is hockey and you instead played human punching bag.” 

“Not that job. My other job. The one where I take care of you.” 

You spun on your heel, a basket of supplies resting on your hip. The sweater that engulfed your frame had the university’s logo stamped across the front, but instead of jeans or slacks—the usual uniform for PT interns—you wore leggings. Your hair was pulled back in the most endearing, pretty mess, and Bucky’s chest hurt as he looked at you. 

“My tired girl,” he hummed, bringing his hand up to your cheek as you pushed him down on the exam chair. He sat if only to appease you, his feet still flat on the floor even with the tall seat.

“I’m only a little tired,” you weakly fought. Bucky chuckled in response, sanitary paper crinkling beneath him. “Now let me clean you up.” 

You snapped gloves onto your hands and Bucky fought back a petulant whine. If he had been any other member of the team, those gloves would have been on the second they walked in the door. He should be grateful, then, that you only put them on when it was time to tend to his wounds, but he wasn’t. He missed you too much to feel latex instead of your skin. 

Bucky’s lip stung as you cleaned it, but he hardly flinched. If he moved, he would miss the pretty way you bit into your lip as you stared at him. 

“Remember when I’d be in here all the time?” he asked when you turned back down to grab antibiotic cream. 

You let out a tired laugh. “How could I forget? You picked a fight every game. If that didn't work you’d come stumbling in here complaining about a torn ACL or whatever. Big liar.” 

“I wouldn’t call it lying.” 

The smile you gave him was replicated on his own face. 

“You were literally lying.” You dabbed the cream on his lip, and then moved to the cut on his cheek. “You would come limping in here and then I’d see you an hour later running out to the parking lot.” 

“You wouldn’t look at me if I wasn’t injured.” 

“It was my job, Bucky!” you laughed, eyes giving away your amusement. “I wasn’t supposed to be fraternizing with the players. I’m pretty sure Cho only lets us be together because you wouldn’t leave her alone otherwise.” 

Bucky moved his hands from his thighs to your waist, tugging you closer as you worked. “Hey, sometimes drastic measures are needed.” 

“You called her multiple times a day… bought her an edible arrangement. Wait, didn’t you offer to drive her kids to school a few times?” 

“It worked, didn’t it,” he posed, nudging his nose against your cheek. You giggled, lightly slapping his arm to get away. 

“The edible arrangement was a good touch,” you relented. 

Bucky released you as you wiggled from his grip, flitting around the training room to put supplies back. He spotted your backpack in the corner of the room, unzipped with the water bottle tipping out. When you sat down at the computer to document his care, which he found a bit ridiculous (you only put a bandaid on his face), Bucky walked over and gathered your things. He did so slowly so you wouldn’t notice; you probably had plans to stay at the rink for another few hours, and that was not okay with him. 

With a final zip and your water bottle now standing upright, Bucky meandered over to your seated position. He hooked his chin over your shoulder as you worked, leaning over and tapping your phone screen for the time. His heart twisted warmly in his chest when he saw a picture of himself smiling under the 8:00 pm displayed on the homescreen. 

After all the pining and work it took to get you, Bucky often felt this wasn’t real. 

God, he loved you. 

“I know what you’re trying to do,” you whispered, clicking away at the computer. “I still have some charting to do. Peter hit his head yesterday and I have to do the follow up work.” 

Still in his uniform, Bucky wrapped you up from behind. Now you would both need a shower and he could get you to leave. He kissed the back of your head, and then your temple, and then your cheek as he craned his neck to watch you work. You smelled like fresh laundry and books and the subtle hint of your perfume.

“Parker’s fine. He was up and playing today. Let’s go home, baby,” Bucky murmured, most of his words spoken against your skin. 

“I know he’s okay. But head injuries are a completely different protocol and I have to—” 

“I miss you,” he reiterated. “And you’re working too hard. All the lights are off in the rink ‘cept for this one. Come back to my place. Let me take care of you.” 

“Why don’t you shower and change first? I’ll leave with you once you finish.” 

Bucky spun your stool around suddenly, one hand on your waist, the other reaching back to steady himself on the desk now at your back. “Oh no, don’t try to pull that on me. I get back in here, you’re gonna tell me you started something new you can only finish on the PT computer and you can’t leave for another hour. I wasn’t born yesterday.”

You let out a quick sigh, caught. “Well, what about—” 

“Nope,” Bucky interrupted. He used his far hand to shut the facility computer and then guided you up. “You’re coming home with me. You’re gonna sit in the car while I drive you to my apartment and then we’re gonna take a shower together and I’m gonna make you feel so good you don’t even remember what a concussion is.” 

“Bucky,” you chastised, hiding your face in his shoulder. 

His laugh shook your head. “Still so damn shy.” He reached down to grab your bag, slinging it over his shoulder and placing a hand on the back of your neck, meeting your averted gaze. “Just me in here, baby.” 

“I know. But you don’t have to be so vulgar.” 

“Vulgar? Sweetheart, if you want vulgar I’ll tell you exactly what I’m gonna do to you the second we—” 

You slapped your hand over his mouth, careful for the delicate skin there. Still, Bucky was sure you could feel his smile against your skin, and he fought back an even bigger one when he saw the embarrassed twist of your brow. 

Slowly, he pried your wrist down, kissing the palm of your hand on the way. “Sorry,” he whispered, not sorry in the slightest.

You pursed your lips, flustered. “You’re such an antagonizer.”

Bucky could do this every day and never grow tired of it. It had been months now and he found himself only wanting you more. 

“Can’t help it. I love you.”

Your faux annoyance morphed into a bashful smile, the kind Bucky remembered from his time faking injuries. It was reminiscent of when you were trying not to laugh at his jokes, or smile at his flirting, or give him any reaction he was looking for. 

But he always got what he wanted in the end. 

And, more than anything, he wanted you. 

“That one do the trick?” Bucky asked. “Am I finally getting my girl to come home with me?” 

When you looked up at him with raised brows and a smile twisted up at the corners, he knew you’d given up. Perfect timing, too, because—in all honesty—Bucky had been punched in the side during his on-ice tussle, and his ribs were starting to hurt. You were going to be pissed when you saw the bruise form tomorrow morning, but you would be pissed in his bed, so it was worth it to Bucky.

“I have to get a little bit of homework done when we get there,” you reasoned, pointing an accusing finger at your boyfriend. 

He threw his hands up in surrender, dropping one down over your shoulders as you both walked out. “Okay, okay. Homework at my place, I got it.” 

“That comes first, Bucky. Before anything else. Shower, then homework, and then… other things.” 

“I know what first means, baby.” 

“Good.” 

But Bucky had other plans, and they did not involve homework. He was pretty sure you were ahead, anyways. Like, weeks ahead, actually. 

“You eat dinner yet?” he asked, fishing his keys from his pocket. 

You looked up at him, incredulous. “What did I just say?” 

“What?” he defended, tugging you closer as the wind in the parking lot whipped at your clothes. “I can’t make sure my girl’s had dinner? What am I allowed to do?”

You only scoffed, tucking yourself further into his side. “Keep me warm.” 

“Always, baby.” 

#hockey!!!! #my fave sport ever #bucky x reader #college!bucky #bucky au #athlete!bucky

[sj-ficrecs]

What about for cmb the group taking a weekend trip to the beach or something? Bucky sees her in her swimsuit and he’s shirtless and she’s 👀👀👀 and they’re very cute.

this ask is literally from over a year ago but here we are. cmb drabble time let’s go!!! (i wrote this literally months ago and forgot to post it but we ball 🫡)

x

Truthfully, you would’ve never guessed that the gang found enjoyment in a trip to the beach during summer. If the fact they were constantly in leather jackets and complaining when the temperature raised even slightly above 80 degrees told you anything, it’s that they’d much prefer to spend a warm summer’s day under the shade in the clubhouse garden, sipping on cold beers and actively trying not to catch any rays.

But one morning, you woke up in Bucky’s bed, as usual, except you also had Peggy standing over you like a sleep paralysis demon (a pretty one, obviously), and you forced yourself to squint open your eyes.

“Up and at ‘em, _____, come on!” She chirped, tossing a black bikini at your face. “We’re going to the beach.”

Groaning, you reached an arm out of the duvet, picking up the top garment and holding it up to inspect. “This could literally fit a build-a-bear.”

“Well it’s your size, and I told you you might need a swimsuit for the summer. Of course, I knew you wouldn’t bother buying one, so I got you one. You’re welcome,” Peggy said. She had a duffel bag over her shoulder, likely filled with enough sun cream to protect a whole group of bikers from the Friday heatwave. “Plus, I thought Bucky would appreciate it.”

You scoffed, flinging the top at your friend. “You’re so weird. Please focus on what your own boyfriend would appreciate, thanks.”

Peggy just chuckled, giving you a wink. “You’ll thank me later.”

***

After setting down your beach towel and quickly rubbing some sun cream down your arms and legs, you plonked down on the towel and tugged off your tank top, about to apply some more to the rest of your skin.

The beach wasn’t so busy, since people were at work and kids were in school, so the gang set themselves up on a nice spot in the middle of long expanse of sand. Natasha was quick to put up a parasol and make sure she was completely in the shade. Sam and Clint had put down their towels and already started on the snacks that were meant to last them a good few hours. Steve was rubbing sun cream on Peggy’s shoulders while she leaned over a book, thick black sunglasses sitting on the bridge of her nose.

Next to you, Bucky already had his shirt off, laying idly under the sun with his eyes shut. Well, you thought they were shut, until your heard a wolf whistle from behind you.

You turned your head, and sure enough, Bucky was eyeing you. You snorted. “You literally see me naked, like, every day.”

“So? I can appreciate your divine beauty, with or without clothes.”

“Divine beauty. Thanks, Shakespeare, ” You snorted, passing him the bottle of sun cream. “Do my back?”

The biker took the bottle, popping it open and squeezing a fair amount into his hand. He sat up behind you, starting to rub the cream between your shoulder blades. Then down your spine, and lastly just above the waistband of your shorts. He finished with a pinch to your waist, to which you reacted by dodging the kiss he tried to plant on your neck after.

***

To iterate, you’re not the jealous type. Being jealous implies some insecurity on the jealous person’s part, and you weren’t insecure when it came to Bucky, because you knew you had him wrapped around your finger.

But there’s a group of girls a few feet away, lounging under a parasol and giggling while looking directly at him, and frankly, you wanted to climb on top of him and show them who he belonged to.

He’s blissfully unaware, almost asleep under the sun. And it’s obvious why he has some ogling eyes; his tattoos are all on show, and the sun is casting light on his large arms and toned abdomen.

It’s Natasha who says what you’re thinking: “Looks like you have some admirers, Barnes.”

“And a guard dog.” Clint adds with a snort, looking directly at you.

You grab an empty plastic cup and chuck it at Clint’s head. “Call me a dog again, Barton. It’ll be a beer bottle next time.”

“The fuck are you guys talking about?” Bucky asks, still lying down with his eyes shut. The sun seems to make him tired; it’s rather endearing.

“Gaggle of giggling girls at three o’clock.” Peggy grins, pointing to the right of Bucky. He follows the woman’s hand, while you just want the ground to swallow you up. If Bucky even suspects you’re having a jealous moment, he won’t let you hear the end of it.

The girls don’t make an effort to be subtle, even when Bucky catches them looking. He turns his head to look at you, and the smirk that grows on his lips is telling enough of what he’s thinking.

“I don’t wanna hear it, Bucky.”

“You know, I really never thought I’d see the day—”

“No—”

“You’re jealous aren’t you, sweets?”

“I’m not jealous.” You insist, but Bucky only stares at you patiently, and you can’t help but crack under his gaze. You huff.

“They’re ogling you, Bucky. as if… as if you’re a piece of meat! It’s inappropriate.”

Bucky scoffs, though he sits up and moves to snake an arm around your waist, making goosebumps appear on your skin even under the hot sun.

“Then they can ogle at this instead.” He says quietly, before pulling you close and landing his lips on yours, and who are you to even think about pushing him away?

Your hand instinctively lifts to his jaw, caressing it with your thumb while he digs his fingers into the skin above the waist and of your shorts. You’ve never been one for PDA, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and making sure everyone on the beach knows that Bucky is all yours (for now, anyway) certainly calls for desperate measures.

“Jesus. There’s kids on this beach, you know.” You hear Natasha tease behind you, and you chuckle as you pull back, lips swollen and heart beating a bit faster than it was only seconds ago.

#biker!bucky #BUCKY AU #a snippet from one of my fave fics

[sj-ficrecs]

Hi guys!

So I haven’t been reading fic as much lately but I’m gonna attempt to catch up soon… If anyone wants to drop some more recent bucky fic suggestions in the replies I’d love it! Or send me a ask w/ links :)

#Bucky #bucky x reader #bucky fanfic #bucky fic rec #bucky x you

[sj-ficrecs]

drifting (complete!)

[cw!bucky barnes x female!reader]

*masterlist*

summary: bucky saves the life of a woman when she's buried in an avalanche. faced with the possibility that his cover might be blown, bucky must keep the woman alive, and try to keep her from finding out who he is... or what he's done.

how long can he hide?

warnings: traumatized/socially-awkward bucky, canon level injury/violence, snowed-in, hurt/comfort, eventual smut, pre-deprogramming bucky, manipulative steve & nat, mention of psychological trauma and hydra-level torture, etc., eventual appearance of the winter soldier.

🎵drifting playlist🎵

One (2/7/22)

Two (2/17/22)

Three (2/20/22)

Four (2/24/22)

Five (2/26/22)

Six (2/27/22)

Seven (3/2/22)

Eight (3/10/22)

Nine (3/20/22)

Ten (3/28/22)

Eleven (4/3/22)

Twelve (4/12/22)

Thirteen (5/4/22)

Epilogue (12/12/22)

a/n: shoutout to @peterhollandkait for inspiring this story idea. Hope you enjoy!

kate’s masterlist - my bucky barnes masterlist

tag list: @peterhollandkait @abitgryffindorky @hogwartsahist0ry @idgafiamallthefandoms @mysticatto @ohheyjanie @im-just-star-dust @light-through-stained-glass @ginger-swag-rapunzel @sanguineterrain @honeywithemoney @nahthanks @lalalalokii @themorningsunshine @mumbles411 @slutforsexyseabass

#to read #mcu bucky

[sj-ficrecs]

Sweeter Than Honey •Masterlist•

Pairing: Mechanic!Bucky x Fem!Personal Assistant!Reader

WC: 20k (Complete)

Summary: It's your first international trip working for bestselling author Tony Stark as his new personal assistant, and you're desperate to prove yourself worthy of such an incredible opportunity. But when things start to go wrong whilst staying in Dublin, and suddenly you're stuck in the middle of the Wicklow Mountains with a flat tire, you're convinced that you'll be fired before the day is over. Luckily, a handsome, blue-eyed mechanic with an accent that makes your insides melt comes just in time to save the day.

No pressure at all, but if you'd like to support me for my writing, please consider buying me a Kofi!

🍀 Chapter 1

🍀 Chapter 2

🍀 Chapter 3

🍀Sweeter Than Honey Drabbles/Thoughts Tag

Note: This series was inspired by a request made by @w0nderw0mansw0rld MONTHS ago, mixed along with a life situation that I thought might fight with the story. Some of the banner images I used were taken by w0nderw0man herself (including the bottom right corner one in the masterlist), which makes it that much more fun and personal. :) <3

There will be no taglist for this series. For updates on new chapters, be sure to follow @dreamlanddlibrary and turn on notifications for when I post new fics!

Beta'd by the truly wonderful @sweetascanbee

Divider by @firefly-graphics

🍀 Fun stuff 🍀

Moodboard by @treatbuckywkisses 💕

Fayth moodboards STH tag

Moodboard by @m4tthewmurd0ck 💕

This lovely moodboard by @buckspumpkin 🥰

#mechanic!bucky #to read #bucky au

[sj-ficrecs]

Awake My Soul • Masterlist

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x F!Reader

WC: 78k (Complete)

Summary: It's been five years since zombies first started walking the Earth, destroying anything and everything in their wake. Now, in this apocalyptic world, fighting for survival comes as naturally as breathing. The one thing you've learned ever since they arrived, though, is that the living can be so much more dangerous than the undead. When you stumble across two young, scared boys lost in the woods and being chased by walkers, you go against your better judgment and help them to safety. Little did you know that helping them would lead you to Bucky - an angry, grumpy, distrusting member of the camp Shield. Bucky has zero interest in having you enter his life. He's been hurt before and lost too many people to risk experiencing that kind of pain again, and he knows that there are secrets you aren't telling the group. Yet, when push comes to shove, and you're put at risk, he'll stop at nothing to keep you safe.

Series Warnings: AaaaNGST, canon level violence, zombies, blood/gore, broken bones, scars, mentions of torture, lots of unaliving (think TWD lol), BUT...will still somehow have a happy ending because it's me :,)

Series Playlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Epilogue

New chapters will be posted every week or so (I have fallen a little behind lol but am still actively working on this series so it will be finished). There will be a limited tag list, so please let me know if you would like to be added! Otherwise, you can follow my library blog @dreamlanddlibrary and turn on notifications to get updates when I post!

Gif by Malin 💖

Fun Stuff:

Moodboard by the fantastic treatbuckywkisses Fayth moodboards AMS tag

Divider by firefly-graphics

#i’m so behind #when did this get completed #I need to finish asap! #zombie killer!bucky #bucky au #fave

[sj-ficrecs]

The Bet

summary: The agents at SHIELD have not taken well to Bucky’s pardon. When he’s injured on a mission under suspicious circumstances, you take matters into your own hands.  

pairing: bucky barnes x reader

word count: 7.7k

warnings: canon level violence, bucky’s internalized self-punishing issues, shield agents being real pieces of shit, badass reader who would defend bucky to the death

a/n: I know I’ve been really inactive lately (life’s actually been going well so I’ve been busier but that leaves me less time to write unfortunately), but I’m still lurking here! This is a fic I wrote several months ago but finally got around to editing it. Hope you enjoy!

Bucky wasn’t sure how you managed it – the punch to his gut every time you walked in the room. You were dressed in your tactical suit; black fabric draped over every inch of your body, protective layers of Kevlar and technology beyond Bucky’s years, a weapon strapped to your thigh and knives hidden in your belt and at your ankle. Your hair was tugged out of place, sweat beaded on your temple from the sparring match in the gym moments before the two of you were called to service. In your right hand, you carried your combat boots, the laces hanging low enough to touch the ground.  

And still, Bucky held his breath as you approached. Stomach in knots, chest tightening until his heart threatened to stop entirely.

“My offer is fifty this time,” you announced, winking in his direction before you turned to head for the landing bay. “Take it or leave it, Barnes.”

Keep reading

#to read #mcu bucky

[sj-ficrecs]

The Casket

summary: When a mission goes wrong, you’re helpless but to watch as Bucky is forced into the object of his nightmares – Hydra’s cryochamber.  

pairing: bucky x reader 

word count: 12.5k 

warnings: canon level violence, nightmares, body warming tropes, pissed off reader won’t stop until she saves her man,  

a/n: Here it is. The last fic in my archive. I adore you all so much. Thank you for everything 💕 In case you missed it, here’s the post on the future of this blog.  

You woke to darkness. The bedroom was cast only in the dim light of stars and the pale glow of the alarm clock. It had yet to reach the witching hour. Daring a glance over the safety of warm covers, you spotted the ends of curtains dancing at the window as an icy draft escaped through the thin fabric.  

It was warm the evening before, but New York weather was unpredictable in the changing seasons. The crickets chirping down by the lake had been a comfort as the sun had set. It was a glimpse of Spring on the horizon. Hours later, your breath was visible in each exhale.

Keep reading

#to read #mcu bucky

[sj-ficrecs]

Love & Barbells - pt. 3

Pairing: Chubby!Bucky (gym crush) x Reader

Warnings: Fluff, Sam being the best gym bro, Bucky being an absolute sweetheart/flirt.

Authors Note: I have been extremely idle on here, but I finally found some inspiration and decided to run with what little I got. Thank you all for continuing to be here and read for those that are. Hopefully the pixie dust will continue to sprinkle itself around me so that I can continue to push these out. Enjoy and happy readings Buns!

“Come on girl, one more, that’s it, up, up, up!” Though your hot in the face you let Sams words and mirroring stance push you to finish your last set, a relief washing over you in the form of a weak smile as your hand meets his in a lame attempt at a high-five of a job well done. 

“Drop your weights and go get some water, you earned it,” he grins, teasing laced in his tone. You don’t need to be told twice as you place them on the mat, your arms like noodles as you drop into a low squat reaching for your water bottle as you watch Sam and Steve partner up, Bucky walking over to you, sweaty grin on his lips. 

He drops into a similar squat, “so what do you think, not too bad right,” he questions breathy laugh slipping past his lips as he watches for your reaction. 

You swallow down the water held in your mouth, running your fingers over your lips before you speak, “watching and doing are definitely two different things,” is what you offer and the grin that morphs fairly quickly into a smirk has you hiding behind another sip of your bottle. 

“you watch us y/n,” he teases smirk growing as he watches your burning face. You will the water down before capping your bottle and placing it down, hopping to save yourself some embarrassment, “doesn’t everyone watch at some point,” you throw back, “and yeah I do, it’s kind of hard not too.” 

You had already dug yourself this far, why not keep digging? 

The way his brow raises smirk pulling higher is endearing, “I like the little group you have going, its tight knit, you guys fit.” 

Bucky smiles, “well I’d hope we do seeing as we’re all friends outside of this.” The brunette laughs at your mock shock, “friends outside of this, I would have never guessed.” 

“Enjoying your break,” Sam questions through a breath as he and Steve close in on the two of you. 

“This was a break?” 

Steve and Bucky are snorting back a laugh, Sam’s brows shooting up, a grin pulling at his lips, “so that’s how this is, you want more?” 

Your extending a hand out to him, “give me something to cry about later Sam.” Sam let’s out a whistle grabbing your hand in his as he pulls you up, “I like you, might just trade you for Steve sorry Buck.” 

Steve laughs as he moves closer to Bucky, “c’mon Buck let’s go pull some cables.” 

“Don’t go to hard on her Wilson she owes me a leg day!” 

He’s waving them off, “wouldn’t dream of it Barnes, I think she can handle it,” he calls over his shoulder as he leads you to the next equipment. 

Sam manages to put you through the ringer, or at least tries to, “you’re something,” he pants wiping sweat from his brow as he turns to you, “I can see now why you catch Barnes attention here and there.” 

Your hands fall to your hips, warmth creeping up your cheeks as you catch on to his words, “everyone at one point or another stares while they’re at the gym Sam.” He laughs, “true, but I see now why big guy over there gets all lost on you between sets.”  

You raise a brow waiting, “you’re good at what you do, you don’t come here to play, you come here to put in work and you push.” A smile pulls at your lips, “thank you, that’s the main reason I come here, to put in work - to feel good about myself, to feel strong.” 

Your fist is meeting his, “That’s what I’m talking about! Hey listen if you’re ever wanting to join us for one of our sets don’t even think twice, just come on over and shuffle yourself in.” 

“Really,” you question, “I really wouldn’t want to intrude, I was telling Bucky earlier that I like your dynamic, it’s tight knit, you all fit in with one another.” 

“Well we’ve been training for months now and been friends for longer so yeah we fit, but there’s always room for more,” he grins. 

“I’ll keep that in mind, so what’s next?” 

His grin grows, “you want more, well come on then let’s hit the next set!” 

You take up Sam’s offer, though to be fair it was technically the promised leg day you would take Bucky through, you had started off strong just the two of you. 

“You know as long as I’ve been here I don’t think I’ve seen too many people stretch before their leg day.” 

You look over at him as he helps you rack your warm up weight, “I wouldn’t before,” you reveal, “its actually not until I started really going up in weight that I realized it’s importance during heavy lifts, I also learned not to just jump into it, you need to warm your muscles up.” 

He’s flashing you a grin, “smart girl, so you’ll let me know when you need me?” 

Your legs are shaking and you haven’t even begun, “yeah, I’d say the first set I should be fine but once we up the weight – well you’ve seen me struggling so.” 

He chuckles watching you intently as you settle under the bar readying yourself as you unrack the weight and settle into your stance. You worry as you begin your descend that you may not be able to perform like you usually do with having him so close, you were used to him being across the gym unaware of you. 

Bucky proves you wrong, encouraging your every rep despite it only being the warm up. And you return the favor when he performs his, being rewarded with that knee buckling smile after every descend. 

At the first add of weight Bucky settles in behind you, not close enough to catch your weight, but at the stand by, a watchful eye. A grin is pulling at your lips when you find that watchful eye a little too watchful, his eyes following much more than just your form. 

Your eyes catch his gaze in the mirror when you pause at the top, “how's my form,” you breathe through a laugh. You’re not expecting the lower lip lick, “it looks good.” Your knees nearly buckle under the added weight and as you go forward to rerack, he’s reaching for you. “Hold on now,” he chuckles hands settling on your ribs, “you’re not done yet sweetheart, come on now give me one more.” You feel warm beneath his guiding hands, his fingers tapping against your skin as he follows you down.  

His touch makes you weak, what should have been an easy rep has become hard your legs struggling to get you to the top. “That’s it, come on get to the top sweetheart, come on now,” he encourages. Following his guide you get the last rep out, your legs stumbling forward as you rerack it, his form close as he helps you.  

You slip out from under the bar turning to face him a smile on his pink lips, “you good to go up in weight, don’t want you burning out, we barely just started.” 

Your roll your eyes only slightly, “I’m hitting max weight today Bucky, c’mon now get under here.” 

“You or the bar?” 

You want to smack the shit eating grin that grows on his face, instead the back of your hand meets his clothed chest, “get under the bar Bucky.” He moves in chuckling under his breath as he goes, your form sliding in behind him like a smaller shadow.  

His reps are effortless, little strain show in his features as he surpasses his reps, “do you even need a spotter, making it look real easy.” Bucky slips out from under, following opposite you as you add more weight to the bar, “when you have the perfect spotter reps do come easy.” 

Your heart swoops, stomach somersaulting as you add your weight, your form going around as you settle yourself under the bar, Bucky settling in behind you. He falls in closer, hands hover just above your skin as you push the bar off the rack, stepping back into him as you brace your core for the first rep. 

He’s breathing words of encouragement into your ear for every rep you manage to get out despite the shake to your head and the disagreement that you cannot falling from your lips. His hands are on you now, your back aching from the added weight, “c’mon y/n, just one more, one more and we can move on c’mon now.” Your gaze is on his in the mirror, your head shaking, “I can’t, my legs are shot m’gonna fail this one,” you groan. 

“c’mon now, I’m right here,” he adds as he brushes his chest up against your back, his hands now stretched out in front of you, “you’re not gonna fail, m’right here, c’mon now.” You work up the gut, bracing yourself as you suck in a breath, “that’s it, ready,” you release your breath, your form going down with his. 

You hit the squat, the struggle striking, “push,” he encourages, “c’mon push!” Your groan is muffled as you strain to push up to full height, “c’mon y/n, c’mon y/n!” You see Sam coming up in the mirror, his face set in determination as he watches you, “let’s go y/n, you’ve got this,” Steve chimes in, both of them coming to your side. 

Bucky’s still there breathing encouragement into your ear willing you to keep going up as he follows your lead, “that’s it, that’s it c’mon now – yes, yes there it is, there she is,” you hear as you push to full height, a tired grin pulling at your lips. 

“Jesus christ,” you mumble as you stumble forward with Bucky, thighs shaking as you rerack the weight. They’re all there to offer you praise as you lean up against the bar, “never doubt yourself, you’re stronger than you think.” 

You smile legs putty for just your first exercise, “with the perfect help I’m sure I can do anything, thank you,” you say squeezing his shoulder. “C’mon now,” Sam starts getting your attention, “Buck might have been behind you pushing you to give your best but that rep was all you, he was just the net should you fall,” “but you didn’t,” Steve points. 

“Thanks guys, you guys really motivate me, whether here with me or from across the room, you guys have always pushed me through my exercises if it hadn’t happened already, I would have eventually worked up the courage to ask one of you to spot me,” you reveal. 

There are similar smiles on all their lips, “well isn’t a good thing you caught Barnes attention then,” Sam gets out nudging the brunette next to you. Bucky swats at him making you all chuckle, “you done Wilson we were just about to move onto our next set.” 

“Actually, Steve and I were wondering if you wouldn’t mind us working in,” he says looking between the two of you, “I know I mentioned here to y/n that she could shuffle herself in whenever she felt like it and I’m thinking why not.” 

“I don’t mind,” you’re the first to supply, you look at Bucky, he’s shrugging his shoulders surprising you by throwing his arm over your shoulder pulling you from the rack, “I’m okay with it but you’re already a set behind, get on with it.” 

Steve and Sam are laughing as they settle into the squat rack, Bucky leading you over to the leg press right next to them. “I’ll go first, give you a break.” 

“What a gentleman,” you hear Sam tease. “Hope you’re prepared y/n,” Steve says as he unracks the weight this is what it's like all the time.” 

As you looked over the group, your eyes falling on Bucky last as he kicked off the leg press you find that you didn’t mind, you didn’t mind at all. 

#to read #I am so behind #bucky au

[sj-ficrecs]

ice ice baby masterlist

pairing: CollegeHockeyPlayer!Bucky x CollegeFigureSkater!Reader

summary: Bucky is a college hockey player, Y/N is a figure skater without a partner. What's happens when these two opposites start sharing the ice...

warnings: enemies to lovers trope, some alcohol use

a/n: new series coming at you! I've been working on and perfecting this one for a while so I'm excited to finally post a little teaser for you all.

series playlist

chapter one

chapter two

chapter three

chapter four

chapter five

chapter six

chapter seven

chapter eight

chapter nine - coming soon

#hockey!!!!!!!! #to read #athlete!bucky #bucky au

[sj-ficrecs]

My Everyday

Pairing: College Athlete!Bucky x Reader

Summary: Bucky Barnes was aggressive, annoying, and—worst of all—a hockey player. Not your type. At all. But, unfortunately, your roommate. 

Word count: 5.5k

Warnings: Minor injury, idiots in love <3, some angst, pining

a/n: My first fic in a century!! Thank you so much for reading if you’re still here. Depending on how this does I hope I’ll have motivation to write more! College athlete Bucky never fails to get me inspired :)

Masterlist

~~

“What’s this punks name again?” 

The breath you let out was long and excruciating. “I am not repeating myself.” 

“C’mon, y/n,” Bucky whined, knocking his head back on the couch. He watched you bustle around the kitchen from his inverted vantage point. “How the hell am I supposed to swoop in and save the day if I don’t even know the kid’s name?” 

“Okay, well, first of all—” the fridge door clicked shut with a swift motion of your hips “—he’s not a ‘kid’. I’m pretty sure he’s a few months older than you.” 

“Semantics.” 

“And second of all,” you stressed, pointing a butter knife in his direction. “There will be no ‘swooping in’. I’m going to have a nice date and you are going to go hang out with your puck rabbits or whatever they're called. There will be no thinking about me and no swooping in my vicinity.” 

Bucky rolled his eyes, kicking up from the couch and rounding the kitchen counter to pick at your sandwich. You knocked his hand away several times, but you both knew it was futile. In the months you’d been living with the hockey player—who was far too big for the small, shoebox of an apartment you leased—you’d learned that food was non-negotiable for Bucky Barnes. 

There were many other things you’d learned about him as well. He sang in the shower, but only when he thought you weren’t home. He had an annoying penchant for using your $30 lotion—again, when he thought you weren’t home. And he loved to throw his massive, smelly gear just about anywhere it would land right when he got home from every practice. 

He didn’t really care if you were home for that last one. 

Bucky was the last person you thought you would be rooming with when you posted that ad last summer. A small, quaint room previously occupied by your now engaged (and traitorous) best friend, you assumed someone like-minded to yourself would have taken you up on your offer. The price point wasn’t egregious and the building was relatively close to campus. 

But weeks ticked by, and you started getting desperate. Your landlord wasn’t a nice lady, something you were positive she took pride in, and she decided that a rent increase was the perfect way to ring in the new school year. You were on the verge of destitution, and as it so happened, the only other person as desperate as you was the starting center for your college’s hockey team. 

You hardly got along. It had taken weeks for your eye to stop twitching every time he tumbled through the front door at three in the morning, and even longer for you not to feel an infuriating aggravation at his random, nighttime smoothies. You supposed he probably felt the same about your cleanliness rules and your incessant reminders about trash days. Because Bucky was in charge of bringing the trash down those long, apartment steps. Not you. 

But you’d be lying if you said things hadn’t gotten easier as of late. Conversation flowed more smoothly, things that made you seethe before were only mildly annoying, and Bucky was being… considerate? You weren’t quite sure what to call the random cups of coffee he brought home on occasion. Or his sudden urge to warm up your car when he had a morning class before yours. 

There was also the case of that party last weekend. A frat party with far too many drunk men and not enough common sense, you had had the urge to leave the second you got there. But Wanda had dragged you along for the sole purpose of driving her home after she got hammered, so you were essentially stuck. 

It was fine at first. Hot and crowded and loud, but fine. You kept a general eye on Wanda and scrolled aimlessly on your phone in the armchair you claimed. And then it wasn’t fine, because a man twice your size was encroaching on your space and unrelenting. 

“What kinda girl comes to a party and doesn’t even wanna talk to anyone?” 

“You want to come up to my room and watch a movie or something?” 

“Hey, I’m talking to you, bitch.” 

You weren’t even aware that Bucky had been at that party. It wasn’t surprising—the line between fraternities and sports was blurred at your college—but the space he took up as he intercepted the man in front of you was.

~~

“There a problem here?” Bucky posed, crossing his arms over his chest, his presence looming above your seated position. His weight shifted to his toes.

The man didn’t miss a beat. “Yeah, you. Move.” 

“Wanna fucking tell me what to do again?” 

“Fuck you, man.” 

A harsh shove to Bucky’s chest was all it took for a right hook to echo in the living room of the frat house. There was chaos. Grunts and screams from the drunk people surrounding the unnecessary fight created a cacophony of unpleasant sounds that seemed to get the attention of someone in charge. The man—Brian, you had now learned based on screams—was pulled back from Bucky and getting chewed out by some president or manager of something. 

And Bucky was seething, chest rising and falling laboriously as he wiped at the new bruise forming on his face.

Fights were not uncommon. But this one had been about you. For you.

“Bucky?” you asked when the crowd calmed and Brian was no longer in the room. 

You watched his back release its tight coil. He turned. “Are you okay?” 

The words were almost lost in the noise of the crowd, but he was close enough that they created a tactile vibration across your skin. His pupils were dilated and he looked so disheveled it would have been charming if there wasn’t also a cut forming on his brow. 

“Y/n.” 

It took you a moment to realize that you hadn’t answered him. Your response fell out of you as if you’d been shoved. “I’m—I’m fine.” 

He grunted, but it was more of a puff of air. “The fuck was that guy?” 

“I don’t know,” you replied, realizing by the way you swayed that you had stood up at some point. “He just—” 

“We’re going home.” 

“What? I can’t, I’m here with Wanda. I’m driving her, Bucky, I can’t just leave.” 

He grabbed your wrist, the grip achingly soft compared to the blows he was landing minutes before. “She left with that British guy she’s been on and off with. Asked me to tell you.” 

That explained his random appearance. Your brows pinched as you took in the information, eyes cast down to the angry red marks marring Bucky’s knuckles. He’d been in fights before. So many fights. On the ice. 

This was different. 

“I haven’t been drinking—I can drive myself home. You don’t have to leave,” you shouted over the music now bumping in the room. 

He didn’t respond, not verbally. He pulled you to his front instead, leading you through the impossible crowd until cool night air began melting into your skin. His silence was strange. Bucky’s favorite activity was talking your ear off until you told him to shut up, but right now… nothing. Even his earlier words had been clipped. 

You felt responsible for easing the tension in the air as Bucky continued to guide you to your car. You hadn’t told him where you parked, but he seemed to know the exact location anyways.

“You really don’t have to leave with me,” you mumbled. “It wasn’t a big deal or anything.” 

“It was a big deal.” 

~~

The drive home had been silent. The walk to the door had been as well. Bucky spent a few minutes appraising you in the overhead light of the living room when you got inside, but after that there was nothing. He went to his room and you went to yours. 

There was no discussion about it the morning after, either. Bucky apparently wanted to pretend nothing ever happened, so you respected that. Even now, you ignored the fading cuts on his hands as he shoveled food into his mouth.

Bucky’s next words were muffled by a mouthful of bread. “Well where’s this dude taking you at least?”

“Ice skating.”

The cough and sudden exasperation was very expected out of the man next to you, Bucky’s next words hardly containing syllables. “Huh?” 

“We’re going ice skating,” you reiterated. You picked up your lunch and headed for the living room, ignoring the slightly heaviness in your chest. “It’s winter and ice skating is festive. The rink on campus has decorations.” 

“Without me? Y/n, you’re gonna let some guy who probably doesn’t even know how to skate—” 

“Bucky—” you attempted to interrupt. 

“—drag you around the rink like a rag doll?” he continued, holding his hand up to mute your incoming speech. “I’ve asked you to come by the rink, like, a ton of times. You’ve never shown any interest.” 

You rolled your eyes and shot him a cross look as he picked your feet up from where they rested on the couch and dropped them into his lap. He went on with his rant for a little while longer, knocking his head back against cushions and accusing you of being a bad roommate. You had a few rebuttals of your own, but there was a reason you had never accompanied him to the rink. 

A good reason. 

You didn’t date athletes. 

It was true that simply going to visit Bucky at a practice, or letting him be the one to drag you around the ice like a rag doll, wouldn’t mean you were in a relationship by any means. But it would be an extra step. And if you were being honest with yourself, it would only take a few of those extra steps for the irritation you felt towards Bucky to melt into something else. 

And you didn’t date athletes. 

You did not. 

You didn’t have the time, nor the patience, to put up with the cheating, the anger issues, or the crazy schedules. And there wasn’t a single athlete you’d met at your sport-centered university that was willing to compromise on any of those subjects. Especially the cheating. You’d learned that the hard way after dating a lacrosse player for approximately one month before receiving the dreaded DM from a girl you had never met. 

The man hadn’t even given you the courtesy of pretending he didn’t know what she was talking about. He just admitted to his wrong-doing and shrugged. Shrugged. 

So athletes were not exactly in your good graces when it came to dating. 

“Are you even listening to me?” Bucky cut through your thoughts, patting your shin in impatience. 

You blinked and reoriented yourself, focusing on the hairs that fanned across Bucky’s face. “Of course I am,” you lied. “But my answer is still the same. I’m going on my date and you are not going on my date.” 

He groaned, apparently giving up as he cradled your legs closer to him to lean over and grab the remote from the coffee table. He flipped the channel to ESPN—typical—and you ate your sandwich, silently cursing him. He had a TV in his room. 

“When is it?” he suddenly asked, breaking the silence that had knitted itself into a comfortable blanket over the room. 

“Tonight,” you answered plainly. 

The arms atop your legs tensed. 

~~

The dichotomy of the man sitting beside you was impressive. On one hand, he was so full of himself that he had missed almost all of your conversation starters due to being so transfixed by his reflection in the rink’s glass. He had yet to ask you a single question about yourself and had insisted that the four other girls skating tonight were in love with him. 

On the other hand, he was, quite possibly, the most uninteresting person you had ever met. You were usually very quick to laugh, but every word out of his mouth was almost painful. He wouldn’t stop talking about his ex-girlfriend, gave you one word answers about anything other than baseball, and was honestly really terribly at ice skating. You were no pro either, but you found yourself on your back every time he tried holding your hand.

The tumble five minutes ago had you seeking out the penalty box on the side of the rink. You needed a break, you had told him, hoping he would continue on making a fool of himself and give you a moment alone. But he followed you instead, and was now sitting beside you, talking about baseball.

You supposed that was better than making you fall while talking about baseball.

“I bet we could do that,” he remarked, pointing out onto the ice and catching your attention. A couple who clearly had more experience than you was twirling each other around. “We definitely could. I pick up good speed.” You cringed. “I really don’t think we should try, Sean. My tailbone is already pretty bruised.” 

“Oh, c’mon! I won’t try the throwing part, just the twisty stuff.” 

“We are literally on rental skates. You will kill me,” you deadpanned. You were tired at this point and seriously questioning why you thought ice skating was a good first date idea. 

Well, there actually was an answer for that. But you were not going to think about the hockey player that popped into your head when Sean asked you on a date in the dining hall last week. 

Definitely not. 

“I’m not going to let my date think I’m boring,” Sean groaned, yanking you up from your seat. 

You gave a few tugs and words of resistance but they were ultimately useless. You figured it would be just as useless to tell the guy you already thought he was boring. He probably wouldn’t even hear you. 

On unsteady skates, Sean guided you to a mostly cleared corner of the rink and gripped your forearms. He squinted as he surveyed the area, the corner of his mouth turning up in a way that made your stomach roll. This entire date had been a bad idea.

“Maybe we should just watch them do it,” you tried, words wavering. 

“No!” he grinned. “No, we got this. It’s gonna look so cool.” 

And then you were spinning. You’d never been spun against your will before, but it sucked. Your skates kept getting stuck in the divots in the ice and the grip on your forearms was close to bruising. You were starting to get dizzy and Sean showed no signs of caring. God, he really was dragging you around the rink like a rag doll. Bucky was going to get a kick out of this.

“Okay, ready?” Sean called, an unwarranted jubilation in his tone. 

“What?” you yelled. 

He didn’t answer you. Instead, he let go, and you went flying in another direction without a clear path. It only lasted a moment, but the sound of your head smacking onto the ice signified the end of that movement. You landed on your arm next, and then your back. Again. 

This time felt different though. Your head was spinning and there were muted pinpricks trailing up to your wrist. The ache there was dulled compared to the biting iciness in your back, but as soon as you tried leaning on it to get up, it became sharp.

“Oh shit!” came Sean’s laughter-filled gasp. “My bad. I really didn’t mean to let go.” 

You blinked a few times to clear the blurriness from your vision but it proved unhelpful. “I think… I think my arm’s broken.” 

“Wait, seriously?” he asked, wobbling down to a seat beside you. 

“Yeah, it’s—”

“Everything okay over here?” a voice interrupted. You tried blinking again to take in the man that towered over the two of you, but the lights overhead washed him out. 

You recognized him…maybe? You felt like you were going to throw up. 

Sean answered for you. “Yeah, man, we’re fine. She just fell.” 

“Y/n, are you okay?” the man asked, ignoring your date completely.

“Do I know you?” you slurred.

You thought you heard a curse. “What made you think throwing her around was a good idea?” 

“Dude, it wasn’t even that fast. Or my fault. She just couldn’t keep her feet under her.” 

“Well, dude, maybe you should go home.” 

Sean scoffed. “Right, and who’s going to take this one home?” 

Your head was starting to hurt with all of the back and forth. The man that just joined, the taller one, kneeled down beside you. His blonde hair cast a harsh glare that had you squinting again. 

“You want me to call Bucky?” he asked.

Bucky? How would he know Bucky? Blonde hair began morphing into a man in your memory, and you reached for the material of his shirt, looping it between your fingers.

“Steve Rogers?” you mumbled. 

The man, now identified as Steve, sighed. “I’m calling him. Go home, Sean. Her roommate is coming to get her.” 

There was more discussion, something about Steve having the authority to kick him out and Sean not understanding what all of the fuss was about. Steve warned him about something and Sean scoffed as if the situation was beneath him. And then he left. 

Steve was then in your line of sight again, brows pinched together and a bright orange vest covering his shoulders. His hands hovered in front of you as if you’d break if he touched you and you almost found it funny. Steve was a huge guy with a lot of authority on Bucky’s team, but right now he looked like a scared animal. 

“Why are you dressed like a construction worker?” you asked. 

A small smile graced his face. “I’m working at the rink today. Everyone on the team has to take shifts during the holidays.” 

“Hmm,” you hummed. “I think my arm is broken.” 

“I know. I’m pretty sure you have a concussion too. Let’s get you off the ice, yeah?” 

You tried to nod, but that hurt too much so you let Steve assist you in shakily standing up. He guided you to the seats by the rental skate counter with a soft but sure hand on your back, asking some guy named Antonio for an ice pack. Everything around you felt like a fever dream. 

Gentle touches rolled the sleeve of your sweater back to reveal a swollen wrist that Steve immediately covered with an ice pack. 

He cursed again. “Well he’s gonna be pissed.” 

“Who?” Your head swayed with the question. 

Steve looked up to meet your gaze, lips parting to answer, when he was replaced by a different face. Your brain was having trouble keeping up with everything, obviously, because Bucky was in front of you now. He was kneeling between your legs with his hands on your face and you had no idea where Steve went. 

“What the fuck?” you blurted out. 

“Hey, y/n.” Bucky spoke your name low and soothing, his fingers moving to your eyes where he pried them open one at a time and looked for something you couldn’t see. His next words were directed over his shoulder. “Maybe a concussion. Tell me what happened again?” 

“Sean Marcus was being an ass. Flung her all over the place,” Steve replied. 

“Why are you here?” you interjected, trying to focus on one thing at a time. “I told you not to come on my date.” 

Bucky moved his assessment to your arm next, shifting the ice pack. “Never really agreed to those terms.” 

He turned back to Steve after that, having another discussion that you barely understood. Bucky absentmindedly fiddled with the material of your jeans as he spoke, and you put all of your energy into not face planting on the ground. This past week had truly been a series of terrible events with terrible men. 

After some amount of time elapsed, you were walking to the parking lot with a jacket thrown over your shoulders and Bucky continuously jutting a hand out each time you took a step. He was very well versed in concussions, apparently. 

“Okay, in you go, killer,” Bucky prompted, opening the passenger door. 

You eyed the front seat, scrunching your face up. “My arm hurts.” 

The man in front of you seemed to soften, his shoulders dropping on a long exhale. “I know, sweetheart. But we gotta go to the hospital to fix that. I’ll make sure it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“I should just call Wanda. Or Nat. You don’t have to be the one to take me.” 

“I can take you just fine.”

“Why do you want to you? Aren’t you busy?” 

Another long sigh, this one accompanied by hands on your shoulders, fingers at the base of your neck. “Get in the car.”

His eyes were boring into yours, searching for something, or maybe already finding it there. You still had your arm cradled to your chest and you titled your head to the side as you observed him. There was something else to his gaze that you couldn’t quite describe. It reminded you of his expression after he came home from a rough game. Angry. Discontent. 

“You’re being weird,” you commented, breaking the silence you had created. 

“You broke your arm and smacked your head on the ice,” he simply replied, as if the statement was an explanation. 

“Yeah, but—” 

“And then that douchebag did nothing about it,” Bucky interrupted. “So please, y/n, get in the car so I can help you before I find him and kick his ass. Because you know I’m not above fighting people.” 

You blinked, and then slid into the front seat. 

The drive was quiet. You’d never been in Bucky’s car before, but the spinning in your head didn’t give you much space to inspect it too closely. You caught hockey gear in the back, a keycard to the rink dangling off the rearview mirror, and a small collection of hair ties in one of the cupholders. One caught your attention.

“Hey, this one’s mine.” You picked up the purple band and rolled it between your fingers. “Thief.” 

Bucky snatched it back. “Mine now.” 

He made a sharp turn that had you sucking air between your teeth and repositioning your arm. Bucky sent you a quick, achingly apologetic look. 

“Sorry, almost there.” A long beat of silence and then a mumbled, “I should keep your hair tie. You won’t be able to do your hair alone with a broken arm anyway.” 

~~

Your wrist was fractured, not broken. You also only had a minor concussion. This was all great news to you, especially since they told you after administering a hefty amount pain reliever. To Bucky, this was apparently terrible, life-altering news. 

After practically body slamming into the front door of your apartment, he chucked his wallet and keys down on the kitchen counter and began grumbling to himself as he opened and closed kitchen cabinets. You watched from a distance, half amused, half concerned for the rusting hinges. He finally found what he was looking for—a cup—and continued to mutter to himself as he filled it with gatorade. 

“Are you… okay?” you asked tentatively. 

Bucky ripped the freezer open and manhandled three to four ice cubes. “I’m fine. You are not.” 

“I’m okay now,” you assured. Bucky stalked over to you anyways, pressing the sports drink into your hand that was not wrapped in a cast.

You looked down at the glass and sent him a baffled look. He nodded at it and raised his brows, a silent demand for you to drink. 

“Okay. And why do I need to drink gatorade?” Your words were slow. 

“You were just on the ice and haven’t had any water for at least three hours.” 

“Bucky,” you began. “I was ice skating recreationally for about thirty minutes. I don’t need to replenish my electrolytes.” 

“Will you just… will you just drink the damn drink?” he groaned, gesturing to it with a firm hand. “Jesus, I can’t take care of you when you go and get yourself hurt by idiots. So just let me do what I know I can do, alright?” 

“You don’t have to take care of me.” You were beginning to raise your voice, matching some of the frustration in the room. 

Bucky threw his hands in the air, tugging at his roots on the way down. He moved further into the kitchen and leaned against the counter with stiff, rod-like arms propping him up. And then he sighed, long and profound as if this was the hardest conversation he’d had all year. His head hung heavy between stiff shoulders and you felt the environment shift. 

You almost wanted to intervene on his thoughts again, to make some comment about the dishes in the dishwasher or pretend you were going to go take a nap. But he had something to say, something you needed to hear, and so you stayed. You blinked and clenched your fist in the uncomfortable silence, but you stayed. 

“Y/n, I want to take care of you,” Bucky breathed out, words still directed toward the floor, almost too low to make out. “I’ve been tryna get you to see that for weeks now, but you’ve either got no clue or you want absolutely nothing to do with me.” 

You stopped blinking, stopped fidgeting, stopped breathing altogether. You watched as Bucky drummed his fingers against the counter and still refused to look up. You swallowed hard because you weren’t clueless, but also because you wanted everything to do with Bucky Barnes. 

And nothing at the same time. 

“Bucky…” you began, with a tone of surprise you weren’t sure was believable.

“Don’t do it yet,” he stopped you. “Don’t…don’t tell me no yet. I’m still pissed as hell that you got hurt and you shouldn’t be alone with a concussion. I don’t need you avoiding me when you can’t even drive a car.” 

“You’re being presumptuous.” 

He snapped his head up, his eyes rushing back and forth between your own. The drumming on the counter ceased, instead replaced by balled up fists turning white under days old cuts and fading bruises. He didn’t say anything. You searched the empty air for a reply. 

“I wouldn’t avoid you. I don’t know if I could avoid you—not anymore. You’re sort of a big part of my life now.” A good start, you thought. Not a real answer, but not a rejection. 

Bucky bit the inside of his cheek and eyed the drink still perspiring in your hand. You set it down at his observance, moving closer to his slumped posture in the kitchen. 

But Bucky stood up straight at your movement, becoming guarded, stiff. “I shouldn’t have said anything. Bad timing, just forget it. You should try and get some sleep.” 

“I don’t want to forget it,” you softly spoke, shaking your head.

He clenched his jaw. “And I don’t want to hear that you don’t feel the same way about me that I feel about you. Not right now. I feel like I’m going insane, watching you go out on dates and having my best friend tell me that my girl—that’s not really my girl—is all banged up on the ice because of some asshole.” 

You opened your mouth to speak, but Bucky kept going, now pacing in the kitchen. “I mean, y/n, you’re my everyday. I wake up and you’re making coffee. You text me in class to ask what I need at the grocery store and then I call you after practice to make sure you got back to the apartment. I think about you so god damn much and I can’t believe there was a time in my life that I didn’t get to end my day in a home that has you. And you’re just my roommate. You want nothing to do with athletes, I get it—” he added, catching your eye in the middle of his rant, “—but, shit, I haven’t even looked at another girl since… well it doesn’t even matter.”

“Tell me,” you whispered. There were a million other things you could’ve said, a million explanations that would have made sense. But the two soft words stopped Bucky from tracking holes in the ground. They shoved him from his shallow breaths and made him look at you. 

And, god, did he look at you. You must have been worse for wear. A hospital visit mixed with one too many tumbles onto solid ice probably had your hair in disarray and your face pressed with exhaustion, but his gaze was revering. Candy-coated red with soft blues melting below brows that fluxed with the movement of his lips; Bucky was beautiful, and he was looking at you as if you matched.

His tone confirmed as much, light and saccharin as he said, “That dumb movie a few weeks ago, the one about the superheroes. Your friends wouldn’t watch it with you so you made me. You were so excited even though it was awful and you were out like a light within the first hour. You rolled over onto me and I wasn’t gonna wake you up so I sorta just held you.” 

He paused, trailing his eyes up to the light fixtures. “At the risk of sounding pathetic, it felt like I had you, you know? Like we were going through all our usual motions, but after I annoyed the hell out of you and you told me off, you were mine. I can’t… I can’t really picture that with another girl.” 

There were very few times you had considered yourself speechless. But with Bucky Barnes standing in front of you, red-faced and vulnerable and still wearing the stupid hospital nametag they made him put on in the waiting room, you had no words. There was none of the arrogance you usually associated with him, no short-temper or pestering taunts. It was just Bucky, and he was pouring his heart onto the kitchen floor. For you. 

“You get why you can’t tell me no just yet?” he asked, trying to get something out of you. Anything. “You can break my heart, but let me just make sure you’re okay first. And I can’t beat the shit out of Sean if we aren’t on speaking terms.” 

The laugh that left you was one of disbelief, but the breathiness and accompanying tears fit the heaviness of the room. Your glossy eyes met Bucky’s and something flashed on his face, but it was soon out of your line of sight because you were kissing him. You were kissing him hard and your bodies were too close for the cast between you but it didn’t matter. 

He didn’t respond at first, hand hovering at your back. But then he did and the cold linoleum of the kitchen floor was gone from your bare feet. He sat you on the counter, so gently, as if you were glass, and you let your hand brush against the cracks and divots of your home. The one that Bucky came back to every night to see you. 

The one that had housed so many nights of confusion and longing and denial.

The one that had Bucky kissing the life out of you on the kitchen counter. 

He pulled away first, forehead pressed to yours. “Didn’t think I’d ever get to do that.” 

“You can do it again.” 

“Oh, I will, baby.” 

Laughter met in the air between you—sweet, short, intertwined. There was so much you wanted to tell him, so many instances like the one he shared before where you were left questioning boundaries and feelings and lines. But, you figured, there would be so many opportunities to tell him. So much time together. 

“I texted Wanda that night,” you shared, interrupting the kisses he was pressing to your cheek. “After I woke up and you had taken me back to my room.” 

He smiled against your skin. “What’d you say?” 

“I told her I was an idiot—that I was falling for the enemy.” 

Bucky ran a soft hand along the back of your head, a smirk lighting up his face. He was slotted between your legs and kept his other hand firmly pressed onto the kitchen counter, caging you in, making sure your arm didn’t hit the cabinets. 

“And is that true?” 

“I don’t know,” you hummed, connecting your foreheads once again, wanting to stay impossibly close. “Try to cure my broken bone with gatorade again and we’ll see.”

#athlete!bucky #bucky au #college!bucky #hockey!!!!!!!! #my fave sport ever #fave

[sj-ficrecs]

CRUSH- J.B BARNES

Pairing: Biker! Bucky x Innocent! Fem! Reader

Word Count: 3.8k

Summary: home for the summer, you plan on spending it in isolation, too shy and innocent to get into trouble. bucky barnes- the head of the local biker clan, has other ideas in mind.

Warnings: teasing, heavy flirting, pet names, drinking/ drugs mentioned, swearing, lap sitting, enemies to lovers trope

“can you read my mind? i’ve been watching you couldn’t fight to save your life, but you look so cool camo’ jacket, robbing corner stores hard odds to beat when you’re on all fours good men die too, oh, i’d rather be with you”- crush, ethel cain

PART ONE OF THE CAIN SERIES. 

You could hear the revving of the bikes from where you stood, safety guarded behind the glass doors littered with posters and signs, peeling and jumbling over each other- colours starting to fade from the summer sun. 

It was loud, their voices somehow seeming to overlap the roaring engines as they slipped on their glasses. You knew the men in that group, puffing out smokes in the convenience store parking lot. 

All of them. 

And you didn’t know what that made you. Cool, for perceiving the closely, tight knit biker gang? Or shameful- for being seen anywhere near them?

 They were troublemakers. They had always, flaunting their tattoos and leather, never needing an announcement whenever they stepped into a room. You just knew who they were, that they were there and they meant business. 

Bucky Barnes and his posse never expected less. You, on the other hand, were the opposite. Shy, quiet, reserved. A girl who was headstrong yes, but knew that the bark and bite was not always the best strategy. 

You were polite, the kind of person an older person would think ‘What a sweet girl. I like her, so modest!’. Perceiving others, but not wanting to be perceived herself. Innocent. You were like that at school, and you were like that while being home for the summer. 

Keep reading

#to read #biker!bucky #bucky au

[sj-ficrecs]

Part 5

Pairing: Biker!Bucky x y/n

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: Language, anti-religious sentiment throughout

Author’s Note: So I would’ve posted earlier but I wrote this whole chapter once and then accidentally deleted the whole thing without a backup. Could’ve murdered someone. Anyway, here’s version 2.0.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4

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#biker!bucky #bucky au