#bucky barnes is a nerd

[keyboardsmashess]

The Siren, or The Heart of the Matter

Chapter Twenty Five: The Visitor, or Eight Harry Potter Movies and One Second of Bravery

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x OFC

Warnings: language, eventual smut, fluff, angst, canon-typical violence MINORS DNI. A/N: I want to give a disclaimer about the media mentioned in this chapter - Harry Potter is an important world to Cleo (because it's an important world to me), but neither I nor my fictional characters support the author or her incredibly harmful beliefs. Trans women are women, trans men are men, trans rights always and forever. Enjoy the chapter, lovelies <3

Summary: Cleo and Bucky bond, growing closer than ever. What will happen next?

Chapter Directory

I burst into the common room with gusto, shocking Bruce into spilling his glass of water. 

As he mops it up, Tony side-eyes me. “You’re awfully chipper this afternoon, Glowstick.”

I smile at my friends and twirl, arms spread wide. Steve chuckles at my exuberance, and I think I see the ghost of a smile flit across Bucky’s face. “I’m the chipperest, Antonia. Do you want to know why?”

His eyes narrow. “I don’t know that I do, to be honest.”

I grab a cup of coffee, patting Betty affectionately, and hop onto a barstool next to Nat. “Well tough shit, I’m going to tell you anyway.” I take a sip of my coffee, pausing for dramatic effect, and grin widely. “I just got word that the final draft of my dissertation has been approved, and the committee is ready to schedule my defense!”

“Cleo, that’s fantastic! Congratulations!” Bruce smiles at me from across the counter. 

Tony gives me a small round of applause and, at the confused looks of a few of the others, he explains, “That means she’s almost done with her PhD. This is the last step before we have to start calling her Doctor.”

“Oh wow, way to go, Cleo!” Steve says, clapping me on the back. 

Nat nudges me with her shoulder. “Nice work, genius.”

Clint grins winningly, spreading his hands. “Dr. The Siren, I like it.” 

I burst into laughter, soaking in the support of my friends, but the genuine smile of affection I catch on Bucky’s face might be the best congratulations of them all.

“Thank you. I’m definitely excited, but I’m not finished yet. I have to find a time to go to Culver so I can have the defense in person. My thesis advisor just emailed me and said he couldn’t convince the board to do this part remotely.”

Tony moves for his phone, but I stop him. “Nuh-uh. No more pulling strings with your ‘considerable charm and influence.’ You’ve done more than enough already, and besides - I like the idea of doing this last part in person.”

He shrugs, going to the fridge and pulling out a carton of blueberries. “Suit yourself.”

Steve gives me a nervous look. “I hate to say this Cleo, but with everything going on - with The Philosopher still out there - it might not be the best idea.”

I put my coffee mug down and level a hard look at him. “I appreciate your concern, but this is happening. I don’t care if I have to hitchhike there in disguise - I’m defending my dissertation and getting my degree.”

He thinks for a moment, that worried look still on his face. “Will you at least let one of us come with you?”

I sigh, but smile. It’s weirdly nice to know someone worries about me. “Sure, Big Guy.”

I’m about to turn to Nat and ask if she wants to road trip with me when Bucky speaks up. “I’ll do it.”

Tony’s mouth drops open, and a blueberry falls out and rolls across the counter. “Did the Manchurian Candidate really just volunteer for something?” he mutters to Bruce.

Bucky frowns at Tony. “I just figured since I’m immune to her powers and all, it would make the most sense for me to go.”

Steve smiles and looks at Nat with an unreadable expression. She clears her throat. “I completely agree - Barnes makes the most sense.” Clint and Steve both nod, and for a moment I just stare at them, wondering why my friends have such feral gleams in their eyes.

I shake my head and turn to Bucky. “Well… thanks. I appreciate it. And don’t worry - I have it on good authority that I make a great travel companion.” I grin at him and he rolls his eyes, but I can see a tiny smile hiding at the corner of his mouth. 

“Alright,” I say, clapping my hands. “I better go work on our travel playlist. You like Taylor Swift, right, Buck?” His groan has everyone else bursting into laughter, and I look over my shoulder at him before heading down the stairs. “Don’t forget - you volunteered.”

******

New secure email from ESapros@culver.edu

Cleo,

I’ve confirmed the defense of your dissertation with the committee for two weeks from today. I appreciate your understanding of the need to complete this final step in person. Unfortunately, I could not convince them to allow your “colleague” to join us in the room. He will have to wait outside.

It has been a joy working with you during your time at Culver, and I’m quite proud of the progress you have made. Please do consider a career in academia before making a permanent commitment to this little superhero team with which you have found yourself entangled. You are young and intelligent; do not throw that away. 

A wise man once said, “Seek truth while you are young, for if you do not, it will later escape your grasp.” Dean Wharton mentioned that a spot in the English faculty may be opening up, and I hope you do not mind that I mentioned you as a qualified candidate for the position. At least give it some thought, for me.

Please let me know if you find yourself with any questions or concerns prior to your defense in two weeks’ time. Until then,

Elias J. Sapros, PhD

Culver University

******

Avengers minus Thor (only use when 🔨 off-planet or to talk shit about Loki)

Lite Brite: My defense will be in two weeks - just confirmed with my advisor

King of the Lab: Sounds great, kid. You and Cyborg can take the Quinjet ✈️

Nat TonyifyouchangemynameagainIsweartogod Romanov: Congrats Cleo

Nat TonyifyouchangemynameagainIsweartogod Romanov: This is very exciting

Captain Boyscout: It took a lot of hard work, finishing your PhD while also training with us. You should be proud of yourself. Sincerely, Steve Rogers

Lab Assistant: Great work, Cleo.

Katniss: We’re going to have to celebrate when it’s all over, Dr. The Siren 😉🍸

Manchurian Candidate: ���

New secure message from Bucky Barnes

Bucky: Even though we’re taking the jet, we probably still need a playlist.

Bucky: I wouldn’t say no to some Bikini Kill

Bucky: … or Taylor Swift

Cleo: You’re rapidly approaching friendship level four, Buckaroo.

******

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

I thought having my dissertation complete would help ease my anxiety-induced insomnia, but I was wrong. If anything, losing that extra task to focus some of my energy on has made things even worse. 

I spend a few nights tossing and turning, not wanting to allow myself to seek out Bucky’s company even though I know he must be awake, too. After my conversation with Dr. B, my therapist, I’m hyper-aware of my feelings for Bucky, which makes being in his presence incredibly challenging. When he’s in the room, my powers go out the window and I’m suddenly spilling food, tripping over air, and my words come out in a jumbled mess.

Worst of all, my fucking crystal has started glowing when I get too warm and fuzzy about him. It’s like a beacon of desperation and embarrassment.

Still, though, my desire to escape the incessant press of my thoughts while alone wins out over my insistence on keeping my distance from Bucky, and I find myself at his door yet again.

He answers almost immediately. “Cleo, hey.” He’s wearing grey sweatpants and a plain tee shirt, but somehow he makes it look like he’s heading for the runway. There’s the barest hint of a smirk on his face - just enough to have heat flooding my cheeks. And perhaps other areas.

“Hey, Buck. I couldn’t sleep and figured you’d be up, too. I thought maybe you’d want to watch something together?”

He steps back and opens the door, spreading an arm to welcome me inside like always. “What do you have planned for this evening? More kid shows? I have to say, the puppet is growing on me.”

I do my best to suffocate the feelings bubbling up inside me and plop down gracelessly on his couch. “Told you, Zoboomafoo gets everyone eventually.” He chuckles and sits next to me, just slightly closer than normal, and I wish for a moment I’d worn something other than pajama shorts and a tank top with a sports bra. “I thought you could choose tonight.”

Bucky brightens, grabbing a small notebook off his coffee table and flipping through the pages. “I actually have a list - you wanna check something off with me?”

I smile fondly as he hands me the notebook open to a page entitled Movies I Missed. I scan the list, looking for something that piques my interest. “You’ve got a lot of fantasy on here - who knew you were a secret nerd?”

His cheeks flush just a little, and he scratches the back of his neck. “Well, I read The Hobbit when it came out and loved it, so I started with that movie, and then I kept hearing about similar stuff.”

“Oh it isn’t an insult, I’m also a massive nerd. I’ve seen just about everything on this list - multiple times. Since we already started on childhood nostalgia with Zoboomafoo, let’s try Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” I’m already grabbing his remote and navigating to the movie on Bucky’s StarkTV.

He grins widely. “I’ve been reading the books, so that’s perfect.”

“Now I need to warn you, this is not a perfect franchise,” I say, faux-seriously. “But it’s worth a watch anyway. And if you see me crying, no you didn’t.”

He nods. “Got it. Ditto.” He reaches behind me to pull a throw blanket off the back of the couch and spread it over both our laps, then switches off the lamp on his side of the couch.

“Nice blanket,” I say, and it’s dark so I can’t say for sure, but I think he smiles proudly.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

I get my pajamas on and do my skincare routine, and once I’m fully ready for sleep, I completely bypass my bed, walk out of my apartment, pad down the hall, and knock on Bucky’s door. He’s got it open before I finish knocking.

“HP two?” I ask, and he grins and points to the TV where the movie is already cued up. I sit down on what I’ve started to think of as ‘my’ side of the couch, and Bucky takes his.

As he grabs the throw blanket, he shoots me an embarrassed look. “I, uh, washed it wrong and it shrank a little bit.”

I laugh. “You know, they put the instructions right there on the tag.”

He rolls his eyes. “I do know that… now.”

I inch close enough to fit under the blanket, not quite touching Bucky but certainly nearer than before. “It’s fine. Happens to the best of us.” And really, I think, he is the best of us.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

“Do you want a snack?” Bucky asks from the kitchen.

“Sure!” I reply brightly. “I’m always down for a snack attack.”

Before I can ask what he has, he’s tossing me a bag of baked white cheddar cheetos and a bottle of sweet tea, quite possibly my two favorite food items on the planet. I gape at him. “How did you…”

He grins shyly as he takes his own seat, a few inches closer than the night before. “I pay attention.”

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

“So let me get this straight,” Bucky says, pausing the movie. We’ve now surpassed his place in the books and have entered uncharted territory for him. “He’s going to let Harry - a goddamn child - enter a deadly competition because a stupid cup said he has to?”

I nod solemnly. “And now you see why Dumbledore is such a polarizing character.”

He narrows his eyes at the screen. “And I thought Fury was bad. This man is not responsible enough to be in charge of a single kid, much less an entire school of ‘em.”

I pat his shoulder. “I know, Buck. I know.”

Bucky sighs deeply and presses play. “Well, I guess we better find out how Harry’s going to be traumatized this time.” 

I reach over him and grab a box of tissues from his side table. He gapes at me. “Just in case.”

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

As Sirius falls through the veil, I surreptitiously wipe at my eye, hoping Bucky doesn’t see the tear leaking from the corner. Naturally, he spots it immediately. He wordlessly hands me a tissue.

“Thanks,” I say, sniffling a little. “I’ve seen this a million times, but that never gets any easier to watch.”

“It’s weird,” Bucky says, a thoughtful look on his face. I quirk an eyebrow in question. “That we watch this stuff, knowing it’s going to make us sad. It’s weird that we enjoy seeing characters go through all this shit.”

I pause the movie and shake my head. “I don’t think it’s weird at all. Because at the end of the day, they don’t just go through the shit - they survive it. And watching or reading a story about that helps us believe we can survive our own shit, too. At least, it does for me.”

He studies me, and I blush at his attention. “I guess I’ve never thought about it like that, but you’re right. I’ve always liked stuff like this - that’s probably why. I just thought I was fucked up.”

I look away from his intense blue eyes, uncomfortable under his gaze. “Oh you’re definitely fucked up - just for reasons other than your media choices. If you like moderate-to-severely depressing adventures, I’ve got the show for you. We’re watching Supernatural once we finish these movies.” He nods in agreement, smiling at me gently.

I press play, but I can sense that his gaze doesn’t leave my face for quite some time. I refuse to meet it, staring at the screen until my eyes start to water.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

I’m tired tonight, having gone extra hard with Nat in training to work out a pissy mood she was in for some unknown reason. I hope she’ll tell me eventually, but for now I’m happy to help her hit things until she feels better. I feel my eyes start to droop about halfway through the movie.

I’m not sure who edges over first, but the sleepier I become, the closer Bucky and I move to one another. By the time Harry and Dumbledore get to the cave with the inferi, I’ve fallen asleep.

When I wake up, Bucky and I are both completely horizontal on the couch. I’m using him as a pillow, my cheek and hand resting on the firm planes of his chest, and I feel his metal arm wrapped gently around my waist. I’m surprised at how comforting it feels, this arm that was once such a fearsome weapon. It isn’t scary at all - it’s simply Bucky. And I know that, with Bucky, I’m safe.

I crack one eye open to peer up at his face and see that he’s sleeping soundly. As I close my eyes and allow myself to drift back into sleep, I tell myself I’m just being a good friend.

He hardly sleeps - why would I wake him up? I’m only staying because it’s a nice thing to do.

Yeah, right.

It’s the best damn sleep of my life. 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part One)

When Bucky and I finally wake up, the sun is shining in the sky and Steve is pounding on the door. We spring apart like opposing ends of a magnet, neither able to look the other in the eyes. Bucky convinces Steve to wait downstairs, that he’ll get me and we’ll meet him there, and Steve - bless his innocent soul - complies. We don’t speak a word. 

At the end of the day, I knock on the door nervously, and Bucky takes so long to answer that I’m afraid he’s going to ignore me completely. Eventually, though, he opens the door, and I force a casual grin as I walk in.

“We’re almost there, Buck - just two more movies.” I plop down on the far end of the couch, closer to the edge than I’ve been since before our first night of shared insomnia.

He dutifully takes the opposite end, smiling stiffly. “Great. Let’s do this.”

We watch the movie in total silence - no commentary, no snacks, no blankets, and absolutely no touching. I hate every second.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part Two)

Bucky answers the door immediately again, and I huff a silent sigh of relief at the normalcy. As I enter his room, I think back to a text I’d gotten from my therapist, Dr. Benally, earlier today. 

Dr. B: Are you doing your homework?

Cleo: … yes

Dr. B: I know that means no, Cleo. Do one thing that makes you happy today. Talk soon.

Not looking anywhere close to Bucky’s face, I sit in the center of the couch - near enough to his side that he could choose to sit right next to me, but far enough that he could still take plenty of distance. He pauses for only a moment, but I can see the calculations going on in his mind. To my delight, he sits close to me - our thighs pressing together - and grabs the blanket.

“I know for a fact this one’s going to make me emotional,” he says with a small smile. “I’m gonna need your support.”

I take a deep breath to steel myself and, channeling my inner Gryffindor in a moment of bravery or possibly stupidity, I lay my head on his shoulder and play the movie. “I’ve got you, Buck.”

He stiffens, just for a second, and then relaxes, tentatively wrapping his left arm around my back. “Yeah, I’ve got you, too.”

[anerdykat]

Reminder that Steve Rogers saw a flying car in the 1940s and DID NOT CARE. Bucky Barnes is the nerd in that relationship. Bucky would ask inventors twenty million questions about new tech. Steve would just accept it.

no more "steve rogers doesn't know modern technology." embrace "steve rogers has no fucking clue what's a realistic timeline for technological advancement is." this guy used a telegraph one day and a hologram the next. his first introduction to the present was tony stark. he's never lived in a world with an ethernet cable. he doesn't know what the fuck an ipod nano is. if you showed him something supposed to be a groundbreaking impressive invention he'd just be like "oh neat. regular future stuff. okay." steve rogers with the tech awareness of a gen alpha kid. if you showed him a cd rack he'd have to think about it.

[spongelll]

I'm still here btw...

edit : idk why it's taken me so long to update this (over a month) but @cueceekristi pointed out in the comments of this post that this end credit art of Alexei might be referencing this scene from Frankenstein (1931) where the monster picks flowers with a little girl

this one was driving me insane because i knew i recognised the reference, but i just couldn't place what it was, so tysm kristi !!

[nerdbrazil]

[thebudgetmilkywhite]

thinking about official nerd Bucky Barnes saving money to make Steve watch the Wizard of Oz when it came out to see the very first technicolor film lol

[wildflowersandvibranium]

Starlight

Pairing: College Nerd!Bucky Barnes x Reader (she / her)

Summary: Waking on spring break feeling broken after seeing a guy she liked , all over Instagram with someone else. She forced herself into party mode to drown out the pain. Amid the buzz of alcohol and loud music , a shy newcomer named Bucky Barnes pulls her in.

Word Count: 4k+

Content: angsty feelings then fluff! alcohol , hookups mentioned , suggestiveness (nothing happens) , alcoholism/depression feels , college party , kissing , make-out , sleeping in one bed (PG-13) , cutie moments mixed and towards end! i think thats it!

A/N: hi bbys! enjoy nerdy sweetheart shy bucky with party girl reader hehe! ty for reading :3

Waking up on the first day of spring break to that photo was not what she was expecting when she opened instagram. Y/N was sitting on her black sheets laid across her dorm bed , legs tucked under her and phone in hand. 

It was a blurry Instagram story , some brunette with perfect makeup pressed against the face and her perfectly painted lips smacked right on the guy she’d been talking to for weeks now. 

She’d let herself believe he was different , that maybe he saw past the party girl façade she exuded and saw the real her. But the photo shattered all that hope.

A wave of sadness rushed through her body and mind , and she couldn’t stop the hot tears that spilled over her lashline falling on her cheeks. 

She wiped them away with the back of her grey hoodie sleeve , cursing herself for being so naïve so dumb. Again.

 She thought about how he’d called her smart once when she helped him with a test he blew , how he’d said he liked her for her and not her parents' money. 

All of it , every word BS , apparently.

She tossed her phone aside landing with a thunk and pressed her palms to her eyes. 

She couldn’t let herself spiral into a dark place. Not again. And not tonight.

She swung her legs off the bed , took a slow deep breath , and grabbed her phone from the floor to text her bestfriends , Wanda and Natasha.

You: “Party at the beach house tonight. 10 pm , bring everyone.”

A second later, Natasha replied–

Tasha: “You okay?”

She hesitated , then typed quickly. 

You: “Yeah. I just need to feel alive again.”

Wanda’s reply was immediate after Natasha. 

Wans: “We’re on our way. love you.”

Y/N stood up , wiping the last of her tears from her face. Pulling on her tightest and best black dress she had , the one that always made her feel invincible and hot. She went to her vanity and swiped on dark eyeliner with a dark red lip. 

She looked in the mirror, smoothing her hair and forced a smile. If she couldn’t have love , then she’d have fun. 

If her heart was going to hurt , at least the music and shots would drown it all out. Numb it.

She wasn’t going to let some dumb jock break her spirits down.

Tonight , the beach house will be full of electric energy. She’d be the queen again in control , the girl everyone wants to either be , or be around the whole night.

 And if her best friends were there , if they were dancing and laughing and taking shots then maybe she wouldn’t feel the empty ache deep in her chest.

She took one last look at the phone sitting on the sink  , it began softly playing Waiting Room by Phoebe Bridgers. 

She scoffed under her breath and closed the app tired of looking at the photo. Then she walked out of her room , head held high , ready to let the music and party wash the heartbreak away.

˚｡⋆୨୧˚

The music was shaking the glass of her parents’ beach house violently by the time Y/N  stepped out onto the large wooden deck. A red solo cup in one hand filled with whatever booze she could find on the bartop and her phone tightly gripped in the other. 

The salty breeze gliding off the ocean tangled her neatly styled hair, and the led lights strung along the railings cast everything in a glow that was almost dreamlike. It was her scene , her kingdom where she belonged , if she was honest. 

And tonight , like every other house party she threw , she was the queen.

She let the music vibrate through her entire being , feeling the beat settle in her bones rattling her thoughts.

People and bodies were everywhere ,  bunched together shoulder to shoulder on the makeshift dance floor that used to be her parents’ tennis court ,  smushed on the patio where a quickly thrown together bar had been set up , even up in the guest rooms where laughter and half-drunk giggles slipped under the locked doors. 

She took it all in with a sharp eye scanning the crowd, her practiced grin wide and welcoming.

She liked to think she could read a room better than anyone else. She could see who was looking to hook up , who was there to stir up trouble and start fights , and who was already gone on too many shots. 

She floated through it all like she owned the night , because she did.

But underneath the alcohol , glitter and neon strobing , she felt that little hollow space in her chest start to show up again.

 She’d been ignoring it for weeks , months even , telling herself she was just having fun and moved on to the next guy she distracted herself with , each she ended up falling for. 

Telling herself it didn’t matter if another boy ghosted or blocked her. Telling herself that these parties , this rush , this music , this feeling was enough.

She took a long pull from her drink finishing it off , the burn of the alcohol grounding her making her eyes water. She didn’t let the ache show on her face. 

She never did.

Wanda and Natasha were the only two who really saw it. Saw her.

They were perched on the back of the dark blue family couch , drinks in hand , scanning the crowd. 

Natasha was in her usual black leather jacket draped over a short red bodycon dress , despite the heat and humidity. Her hair is a wild , fiery halo falling around her shoulders. Wanda was in a slinky pink dress , her laughter easy but her eyes watchful.

Y/N made her way over to them , bumping shoulders with a couple of guys she knew by name and how many shots they could handle but not much else. 

She leaned in between her best friends , letting out a small sigh as she flopped into the space beside them.

“You okay Babe?” Wanda asked , low enough that no one else could hear.

She forced a smile. “Always.”

Natasha snorted , raising her eyebrow. “That’s crap and you know it.”

She shrugged. “It’s spring break , I'm at a party. I’m fine.”

“You’re always fine,” Natasha said , her tone sharp but not unkind. “Until you’re not.”

She didn’t answer her friend. She didn’t need to. She knew what they were both thinking , that she was slipping back into old patterns. 

Another party. Another boy. Another heartbreak. Repeat.

But tonight , she told herself tonight she’d be the girl everyone wanted. She’d be the coolest hottest party girl , and no one would see right through the cracks.

She was halfway through another can of beer when she felt the shift in the air.

Steve Rogers arrived , of course he did. Steve was a staple at her parties , the golden boy quarterback who managed to keep everyone from killing each other when things got too wild. 

She caught sight of him all tall and blonde and dreamy by the bar, that easy grin of his already in place as he chatted with a couple of the other football players.

She made her way over to him needing another familiar face , her heels clicking against the polished outdoor deck.

“Stevie!” she called out , and he turned just as she flung her arm around his shoulders.

“Didn’t think you’d make it!” she teased , her voice bright and a little breathless from the dancing.

“Wouldn’t miss it ” he said,  giving her a warm hug. “Brought a couple friends with me , hope that’s okay.”

She pulled back and gave him a mock glare. “Stevie , when have I ever said no to more friends at my parties?”

He laughed. “Fair point.”

That’s when she saw him.

Bucky Barnes.

She’d heard his name in passing , a friend of Steve’s , a transfer student from the other coast , or something like that , her mind was fuzzy already.

But she’d never met or seen him before tonight. And seeing him now , she wondered how that was even possible.

He was tall , easily over six feet , with shoulders that looked like they could carry the world and he wouldn't break a sweat. His hair was chestnut and cropped at the top , a little messy with curls , and those blue eyes of his were steady even as they darted around the crowded patio. 

He looked uncomfortable , out of place like he’d walked into a world he wasn’t sure he belonged in.

She felt something in her chest tighten. She’d seen boys like him before , shy, a little awkward , the ones who usually faded into the background at her parties instead of being the life in the middle. 

But there was something different about Bucky. Something that made her want to know more about him.

She moved closer past Steve , giving him a small , confident smile.

“Hey,” she tilted her head so she could meet his darting gaze.

 “You look like you’re lost.” she let out a quick breathy laugh 

He blinked , his lips twitching into a nervous smile. “Not lost. Just… not used to all of t-this.”

She laughed. “It’s kind of a lot , huh?”

He shrugged. “ Yeah , kinda.”

“Come on,” she said , reaching out to take his hand. It was large but soft in hers. “I’ll show you how to party.”

She gave a smile to Steve and he shot his friend a thumbs up as she guided them to the main room where the party roared.

The music swallowed them whole as she led him onto the beaming dance floor. She was used to this , the press of sweaty bodies , the heat , the pulse of the bass. She let it carry her, swaying in time with the beat as she showed Bucky how to let go.

At first , he was very stiff. She could feel the tension in his straight shoulders , the way he kept glancing around like he wasn’t sure he should be there. But she kept smiling , kept her touch light on his arm and chest , kept her laughter easy.

“Loosen up,” she told him , leaning in close so he could hear her over the music. “You’re too tall to hide back there.”

He laughed at that , and she felt the moment he gave in. 

He let the music pull him in, let himself move in sync with her. She caught glimpses of a boyish grin , the one that made something warm unfurl in her chest.

They danced until the air around them felt thick. She taught him how to shoot tequila back without wincing , how to lean into the chaos instead of fighting it. 

All the while , she found herself studying him , how his hair fell into his eyes when it got damp with sweat , how his toothy smile lit up the space between them , how he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered.

It was new. 

It was intoxicating. It was dangerous in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time.

And she wanted more. More of him.

By the time midnight rolled around , the party was a living , breathing thing , a beast with a mind of its own. 

She had abandoned her solo cup hours ago , and she was sure she’d lost track of how many shots she’d done with Bucky. But it didn’t matter. Not tonight.

Not with Bucky looking at her like she was a wonder. Like she hung the stars just for him.

They slipped out of the crowd and into the quieter corners of the upstairs part of her beach house. 

The patio outside was alive with laughter and the low roar of the ocean crashing , but inside , inside it felt like the world had shrunk down to just them.

They found her parents' office , the ceiling fan humming  and the music muted by thick walls. 

Bucky leaned against the arm of the chair they had in the corner of the room , his eyes following her every move. She sat across from him on the office chair , tucking her legs up under her dress, the glow from the string of lights coming through her window and painting her skin gold.

“You’re quiet,” she whispered , tilting her head to study him fully. “Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours.”

He hesitated , his fingers tapping against his knee as he spread his legs trying his best to relax. “Just… taking it all in, I guess.”

She smiled. “Overwhelmed?”

“Maybe a little.” His lips twitched. “I’m not really a party guy.”

She grinned , leaning forward. “I figured that out pretty fast.”

He laughed , ducking his head, and she felt her heart stutter at the way his hair fell into his eyes. “I’m more of a… stay back, study and read kind of guy.”

She bit her lip , curiosity sparking. “What do you read?”

“Mostly science stuff,” he said, pushing his hair back with a little shrug. “Stars. Space. The whole universe. I’ve always been obsessed and that's why I transferred ,  school here's got an extensive space and science program.”

She felt her breath catch. “Really?”

He nodded, his eyes softening. “Yeah. There’s just… so much out there , you know? And most people never look up and begin to think about it.”

For a moment , the party faded away. She leaned back , looking at him in the low light of the room , seeing the quiet wonder in his expression as he spoke. 

She thought about the nights she used to spend out on the dock behind this very house , staring up at the stars until her eyes ached from trying to count them and draw the constellations.

She hadn’t thought about that in years.

“You’re kind of amazing , you know that?” she said softly smiling softly.

His cheeks flushed,  and he ducked his head again picking at his jeans. “I think you’re giving me too much credit, doll.”

She shook her head blushing at the name . “No. I don’t think I am.”

The night continued and stretched on. 

They talked about everything tucked into that little room—about the stars , about music , about their lives at and before school. 

She told him stories about the past parties she’d thrown , how she loved the chaos and the heat and the way it made her feel alive.

He told her about the late nights spent studying alone , about how he plans to work for NASA one day, about how he’d been dragged to this party by Steve and Sam because he’d been planning to spend the break alone nose deep in books and maps.

“All alone?” she questioned , her brows drawing together. “Why would you do that?”

He shrugged slightly , a small smile playing on his lips. “I don’t mind being alone. Sometimes… it’s just easier and quieter.”

She understood that more than she wanted to admit. “Yeah. I get that.”

They fell quiet for a moment, the music from outside drifting through the creaky doors. She could feel the way her pulse quickened in the silence between them. 

He was looking at her like she was something he couldn’t quite figure out , and it made her feel like she was floating.

“You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met,” he finally said.

She laughed softly , brushing her hair back from her face. “That’s probably a good thing.”

He shook his head , his gaze steady. “No. It’s… it’s a really good thing.”

Somewhere around two or three in the morning , they ended up both in her bedroom. 

They hadn’t meant for it to happen , it was supposed to be a quick stop to grab another drink she had stashed in there , to get away from the noise for a minute. But once they were both inside , once the door was closed and the world was just the two of them , everything shifted and felt different.

She leaned back against the edge of her brown dresser , her heart pounding in her chest. Bucky stood a few feet away , his hands shoved in his pockets , his expression soft and unsure.

“Hey,” she said, her voice low as she sat down her drink. “You okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Just…”

She took a step closer , her fingers brushing against his bicep. “We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”

He looked up , meeting her gaze, and for a moment she saw something there , something raw and unlocked. 

“I wan….want to kiss you” his voice was barely a broken sound.

She smiled , her heart racing in a way she hadn’t expected. “Okay,” she whispered, leaning in connecting their mouths.

They kissed like they were on fire , burning.

It wasn’t rushed.

 It wasn’t messy or frantic. 

It was slow , sweet. 

She could feel the tremor in his hands as he reached up and cupped her face , the way his breath caught every time she pressed closer.

She let him take his time. 

She let herself get lost in the warmth of him and his movements , the way he tasted like the ocean air and a little bit of lingering whiskey. She let herself believe , just for a moment , that this could be something real.

But somewhere along the way , the urgency in question faded. They ended up tangled in her bed , fully clothed , their limbs and fingers intertwined. 

She pressed her face into his chest , breathing in the scent of his cologne and the feel of his soft t shirt , and he held her like she was something precious and delicate.

It wasn’t about hooking up or sex. 

It wasn’t about the rush of the party. It was about the quiet between them , the way his thumb traced lazy circles on her shoulder , the way he looked at her like she was the whole night sky shining bright.

For the first time in a long time , she felt safe in the arms of a guy.

And she didn’t want it to ever end.

˚｡⋆୨୧˚

Y/N woke to sunlight streaming through the gauzy yellow curtains , the gentle murmur of waves outside a comforting backdrop to her feelings rushing through her. 

She blinked against the brightness of the starting day , disoriented for a moment. 

Then she felt the weight of Bucky’s arm snug around her waist , the rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek , and everything came rushing back.

The party. The music. His soft , shy smile. The way he’d looked at her like she was made of everything good.

She tipped her head back slightly , feeling the rough edge of his denim jacket he slung over her when she dozed off , it was now laid under her fingertips. 

They were still fully dressed throughout the warm night , their clothes wrinkled and folded from a night of sleepy tossing and turning. 

She smiled faintly at the absurdity of it . The girl who usually woke up to find her bed empty , her clothes on the floor and her heart even emptier. That same girl curled up with a boy who’d rather read to her and point out the name of constellations than break her heart and want her body.

He stirred beside her , his breathing deep and steady. She let herself watch him for a moment , his long lashes fluttering , the soft curve of his parted lips , the way a hint of stubble shadowed his perfect jaw. 

He looked so peaceful , so utterly human , unlike anyone she’d ever brought into this room.

She didn’t want to move. She didn’t want to break the bubble.

But then the soft creak of a door handle rattling made her jump up with a yelp , and she sat up just as Bucky opened his cyan eyes.

He blinked up at her, then gave her a sleepy smile. “Morning.”

She flushed , tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Morning.”

He pushed himself up slowly on his arms , his elbow brushing hers as he reached for something at the edge of the bed. 

She followed the movement with her eyes and saw that he was holding one of her books from her shelfs on the opposite wall , the one he found was about nebulas , worn and dog-eared from years of thumbing through it.

“You… you found my book,” she whispered, her voice catching a little.

Bucky grabbed his glasses from beside his wallet and phone and pushed them up the bridge of his nose , where had those come from? , and gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself , I saw it last night after you passed on out. I didn’t know just how into this stuff you were.”

She bit her lip , hugging his jacket to her chest. 

“I used to be. When I was a kid , I’d come out here and just… watch the sky. I liked to think the stars were little mysteries and stories , always following me wherever I went. Like… friends  you could never lose.”

He turned the book over in his hands , his thumb brushing along the printed cover. “That’s… that’s beautiful.”

She felt her cheeks flush pink , and she ducked her head away from him , a shy smile tugging at her lips. 

“It’s stupid.”

“No,” he said softly. “It’s not.”

She looked up at him then , really looked , and saw the way his eyes glowed in the morning light. 

Like he was seeing her not like the other guys but seeing her wholly completely fully. Not the party girl , not the girl with the wild laugh and the endless nights and money , but the star loving little girl she’d tucked away behind all of it.

Their little moment was broken by a loud bang on the door , Wanda’s voice cutting through the fragile quiet they shared.

“Yo, Y/n! Nat’s passed out on the couch but I’m starving, and you’re my ride!”

She  groaned , burying her face in her hands. “Oh my god.”

Bucky laughed , a low rumble that made her smile even as she wanted to hide. 

“Morning to you too , hot nerdy guy!” Wanda called , and Y/N could hear the tease and grin in her voice.

Bucky looked at her, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Hot nerdy guy, huh?”

She peeked out from behind her fingers , her face bright deep red. “Kill me now.”

He reached out , gently pulling her hands away from her face staring at her eyes then flicking to her lips.

“Can I kiss you?”  his voice soft and earnest asking her sober self now  , even after having already shared a kiss the night before.

She swallowed nodding , her heart skipping a beat. “Yeah. You can.”

He leaned in slowly , giving her time to stop him if she wanted to. 

She didn’t. She really , really didn't.

Their lips met in a kiss that was the softest and most gentle touch she ever shared with another person , nothing remotely close to the desperate  drunken makeouts she was so used to. 

It felt like something that could be…something else she couldn't quite name.

When they pulled back , she tucked a lock of hair behind his ear that fell , her smile shy across her face. “So… can I see you again ?”

“Yeah,” he said , his own smile soft and sure. “I’d like that. A lot.”

She got up , barefoot padding over to her little corner desk where an old , beat-up notebook lay open.

 She tore out a page , handed him a pen , and watched as he scribbled his number down in neat , careful writing.

“Your hot nerdy guy ” he wrote at the bottom , and she couldn’t help the giggle that bubbled up.

As he stood in the doorway , he turned back one last time , his eyes warm and bright. “Call me anytime , star girl, ” he said smiling.

She clutched the paper like air feeling lighter than she had in weeks. “I will.”

He nodded , grabbing his things “Bye , doll’ ,  then disappeared down the hallway leaving her standing there.

For the first time in what felt like forever , she felt seen.

And that feeling , it was  like starlight.

-end

Comments , Reblogs , Likes and Requests are always loved!

(although if you liked this fic please consider reblogging so it can reach a wider audience)

They let me know that you are enjoying what I'm publishing and gives me motivation to write more and more! :33

[viking-hel]

You know he did. He found the Hobbit in ‘37 which would have been hard to get.

Bucky Barnes, the absolute nerd, would have binged Lord of the Rings in all formats and the Silmarillion.

"I read the hobbit, in 1937, when it first came out"

Okay and then sometime around tfatws you read the silm right?? You read the silmarillion right?? Bucky Barnes you read the silmarillion right?????

[buckys-forgotten-plum]

A Lesson in Love

(This is very much a working title)

College!AU

Smarty Pants!Bucky Barnes x Cheerleader!Reader

Synopsis: Being a newly metamorphosed social butterfly certainly has its perks: an amazing friend group, a position on the cheer squad you’ve dreamed about for years, and the ability to make connections everywhere you go. Unfortunately, it doesn’t make you any better at Linear Algebra, enter Bucky Barnes.

Warnings: Cursing, awkward reader, flirty Steve Rogers, that’s it i think :)

A/N: Boy howdy has it been a long time since I’ve posted on this hell-site. I only hope that it’s not shit (it’s probably shit)

—---------------

“Let’s run through the routine one more time guys!” Your voice travels throughout the gym as you direct your teammates to their original starting position. 

“Umed, you’re doing great but I just wanna see a little more stability when you’re holding Yelena up! Yelena, I saw you falter a little at the end there, try and stay strong please!” Your co-captain, Raj, enthusiastically instructs from beside you. 

As the team resets into their original postions, you hear a bumble of agreements and acknowledgments, making you smile. Becoming the co-captain of your university’s cheer team while only being a sophomore was no small feat and you were absolutely ecstatic to get the call 4 weeks ago congratulating your achievement. 

You remember sitting with Yelena in the quad, under a large willow tree, when you picked up the phone, it took everything in you not to squeal with excitement. Though you and your best friend definitely had a mini celebration after you hung up and spared no shame when you both began to scream and shout your elation. 

“Oh, holy shit Rabbit you did it!” The blonde woman had tightly gathered you into her arms and spun you around, a wild grin adorning her face. 

You hug her back just as tightly, “I can’t believe it! I for sure thought Hasan was gonna get it! I mean, his form was impeccable, and did you see that round-off back handspring that he did? Jesus I almost swooned!” 

Yelena laughs heartily before agreeing, “It takes more than just pretty tricks to be a captain though Rabbit, you didn’t get a full ride for nothin’. C’mon, I’m buying us lunch to celebrate,”

After a couple of weeks of barely believing you were able to make the cut as co-captain, you honed your excitement into determination. You began to focus on perfecting the routine you and Raj had planned for the first football game of the year. At this point, it was only a week away and your confidence in the team soared. They all worked so incredibly hard, and by watching how well they were performing today, you had all the faith in the world in them. After the team had run through it a couple more times, Raj had decided to call it for today seeing as you and a few others had an evening lecture to get to. 

Once you had taken one of the fastest showers in your life and changed into a fresh set of clothes, the process of haphazardly shoving your things into your bag and calculating how fast you’d have to run to make it to your class on time began. The gym you practiced in was damn near close to being on the other side of campus from the building your 5 pm Computational Physics lecture was held in and you’d be in deep shit for showing up late. You were already having a rough time in that class and you knew missing even a few minutes of the lecture intro would put you even further behind. 

“You better hop to it little rabbit or you’ll be laaate~,” Yelena sings as she walks past you, already on her way out.

“I know, I know, I know!” You hastily shove the rest of your belongings into your bag before giving yourself a quick pat down to ensure nothing was missed

Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you give a quick goodbye to the rest of the women in the locker room before bolting out. The sun was still shining brightly and there was a late afternoon breeze that cooling as you ran across campus. If you asked any of your friends, they’d laugh and admit that this has become a normal Tuesday and Thursday night for you. None of them would bat an eye whenever they would see your blurred figure and hear a breathless greeting as you sprinted past them. They fully supported your wild determination to overachieve in school while also continuing your advancements in the sport that allowed you to attend such a prestigious institution. 

Your lungs burn as you run up to the large brick building that held the lecture hall, giving a kind hello to a couple of people you knew from your previous class that day. The inconsistent squeak of your sneakers on the linoleum floor can be heard echoing throughout the arched hallway as you try and manage a professional-looking speedwalk. A large sigh of relief is released when you see the double doors to the lecture hall are still open, meaning the class hasn’t started yet. Your pace and breath both slow as you enter the quiet space. As soon as you cross the threshold to the large room, there's a quiet call of your name that catches your attention. You grin and turn to your right to see a group of fellow students all giving you hushed greetings and a few congratulations on getting here in time. 

“You made it in time, Honey Bee! M’ proud of you,” Steve, the blond-haired, blue-eyed captain of the football team, greets you from his aisle seat and holds his hand out as he gives you a wide smile. 

“Hi Stevie,” You smile and take his hand, allowing him to tug you closer, “I sprinted all the way here, you’d think I’d be used to the cardio by now but it still kills me,” 

Steve lets out a light chuckle, “if you want I can start trainin’ with you in the mornings. Or tutor you in time management,” 

You jokingly roll your eyes at his comment and give his hand a light squeeze, “My time management skills are primo, Champ. That’s why I’m here on time, thank you very much,”  

He snorts loudly before nodding his head, “yeah okay Honey Bee, if you say so. Unfortunately, even though you’re ‘on time,’ the whole hall is filled except for a seat up front,”

“That’s okay! You know I like making new friends,” You go to pull your hand from his and find your seat but are stopped by another quick tug.

“Hey, you still wanna go to the cafe with all of us after class? I’ll get ya some lemon pound cake for your troubles,”

You pretend to think about the proposition before giving your answer, “I guess if there's gonna be lemon pound cake involved, I could make an appearance,” 

Steve gives you a dazzling smile, his bright blue eyes developing crows feet as he looks up at you from his seat, “Awesome, I’ll see you after class then, honey,” 

Before you pull away, Steve brings your hand up and turns it, giving the inside of your wrist a soft kiss, “Egh Steve, you’re so sappy sometimes,” You mumble and pull your hand away and silently will the heat rising in your neck and cheeks to go away. 

“Only for you Honey Bee!” You hear the smugness in his voice as you turn to walk down the stairs that separate each side of the large auditorium. 

Steve was right when he said there was only one seat left and you feel a small pang of nerves in your chest as you realize you’d be sitting next to someone you hadn’t had the chance to talk to yet. You pride yourself on your social skills, seeing as though in high school and all the years before, you had been a shy, nervous wreck in front of anyone you didn’t know. None of your recent friends knew how closed off you had been since they had only seen you in your ‘flourishing social butterfly’ phase. 

As you approach the last available seat in the lecture hall you take a deep breath, preparing yourself for the stress of class as well as the prospect of any awkward conversations. When you arrive at your destination, a small furrow knits your brows together as you stare down at the chair. 

“Um, excuse me, is it alright if I sit here? There aren’t any other seats left,” Your voice is hushed as you try and get the attention of the person who has their bag sitting in the theater seat. 

He doesn’t seem to hear you, too caught up with the conversation he was having with his friend in the next seat over. The only reaction you get is a disinterested glance from the woman your target was talking to. Your nose scrunches up in displeasure as you first glare at the person who had clearly ignored you, then at the brunette who’s completely unaware of your presence.

You clear your throat a bit and try again, “Excuse me? Sir?” 

The brunette jumps a bit in his seat and you’re quickly met with startlingly blue eyes that are filled with confusion, “Uh, yeah?”

Your lips pull into a soft smile and you glance back down at the chair before focusing back up on the man, “Is it okay if I sit here? There don’t seem to be any free seats left in the hall,” 

The man’s eyes widen and he does a quick glance between you and his bag before yanking it out of the seat and plopping it in between his legs, “I am so sorry, of course you can! I-I didn’t realize anyone else would be coming,”

A light laugh of surprise bursts from your lips at his apologetic reaction, “It’s okay, it’s my fault for getting here so late anyways,” you give him a kind smile before sitting down and taking your laptop out and setting it on the small fold out table.

You lean back down to search your bag for your charger and a few other things. As you're searching through your bag, you hear a quiet chuckle beside you and you can’t help but turn your head back up to look at your neighbor. He notices your confused look and motions towards your laptop that was covered in various stickers. 

“I really like that one,” there’s a wide smile on his face as he points to a sticker depicting a frog inside of a heart that said ‘commit crimes’ in cute bubble letters. 

A grin makes it’s way onto your face and you nod your head in agreement, “it’s one of my favorites too! I really like this one as well,” you point to another sticker that shows a little mushroom person riding atop a black cat. 

Before the brunette can respond, your professor finally begins to start class, startling the both of you into silence as you ready yourself for any note-taking that needs to be done. As the professor started going over this week's subject matter, which happened to be matric eigenvalue problems, your palms already began to sweat in nervousness. You took your hands from atop the keyboard of your laptop and placed them down onto your thighs, lightly balling them in and out of fists to ease your stress. You had been introduced to matrices in your last semester, but to add a new formula to the mix made you nervous enough to forget any prior knowledge you had stored away. 

Throughout the lecture you had to continuously remind yourself that lots of people are probably having issues with the current topic. However, that voice of reassurance had gotten quieter and quieter as you noticed everyone around you quickly typing or scribbling down notes without hesitation. No one had asked a question and with a quick glance at your laptops clock, you find there to be only 10 minutes left of class. You nervously shift around in your seat and focus on typing down the finishing notes when you feel a pair of eyes set on you. 

You nervously glance up and to the side to catch a fleeting glimpse of your neighbor quickly averting his eyes. The heat that flares up in your neck and cheeks is almost unbearable as you realize he knows that you’re struggling, can physically feel how lost and confused you are with the subject. You immediately become tense and your hands once again leave their place on your keyboard before falling back down into your lap, wiping the sweat from your palms onto your thighs before tightly clenching them into fists. The stress of the class mixed with the embarrassment of how obvious your lack of understanding has made your brain shut down, and only after noticing everyone around you packing up their things did you realize you had completely checked out for the last few minutes of class. 

“Aw shoot,” you mumble quietly while softly closing your laptop. The faint beginnings of a conversation come from beside you, but you’re too busy trying not to break down to make sense of any of it. Little crescent moons were being left in the palms of your hands from how hard your nails were digging into them, your mouth was beginning to taste like iron from how hard you were biting the inside of your cheek, and the sting of tears were present in your waterline. 

As you leaned down to shove your laptop and notebook into your bag, you made sure to take a deep breath because you would be damned if you ended up crying like a baby in front of fellow classmates. Especially ones you just met. It didn’t help too much, but after blinking rapidly for a moment you were certain no tears would fall until you were successfully inside your dorm room. Steve would understand and would make up an excuse for your absence at the cafe.

“Hey,” A voice speaks from above and you jump in surprise before sitting back up straight to find your seat neighbour with a soft smile on his face.

“Hello,” you mumble quietly before glancing down at your lap then back up to him, “I’m so sorry-I’m probably in your way aren’t I?” 

His eyes widen and he quickly puts his hand up to halt you in your movements of gathering your things, “No actually I um-I wanted to actually ask you if maybe we could compare notes for this lecture? I feel like I might have missed some stuff and it seemed like you got everything down. I’ve been kinda struggling with this unit so it’d help a lot,” 

You stared at him for a moment, blinking blankly at him almost in disbelief… Was he really asking you of all people for notes?

You fumble with your words for a moment before answering, “Well I’m not-um I actually might not be the best person to ask for notes,” the sheepish admittance does well to bring a new wave of heat crawling up to the tips of your ears and you try not to cringe in embarrassment, “I’m only averaging a 74% in this class right now,” 

The man tilts his head and gives another soft smile in your direction, “Well I’m averaging a 68 so ya still got me beat,” 

The quiet chuckle he lets out makes your lips tug up into your own smile and let out a quick laugh yourself. You quickly turn your head to the back of the lecture hall and see Steve and a few of your friends gathered around the entrance, discussing something unknown while patiently waiting for you.

“Alright that’s a fair point,” you giggle and take your phone out, “If you wanna, I can give you my phone number and email so we can exchange everything we have? I can’t really promise anything groundbreaking but maybe it’ll help?” 

He grins widely and pulls his own phone out of its hiding place, unlocking it and tapping to his contact list, “Yeah that’d be really nice…I’m James by the way,” 

You mentally scold yourself for not asking the man’s name earlier before revealing your own to him. 

“Nice to meet you,” James' voice is gentle and endearing as he holds his phone out to you in a silent request for your contact info. 

You quickly input your number and send yourself an emoji to ensure it was correct, “I um-I have plans to go to a coffee shop with my friends right now, but I promise I’ll send you all the notes I have as soon as I get the chance if you just wanna text me your email address? Maybe we could share a google document and work off of each other? Really whatever works best for you is fine with me!” 

You bite the inside of your lip to stop yourself from word-vomiting anymore and wonder how, after so many years, you are this awkward with someone. It’s been ages since you’ve been this socially inept with a stranger and you wrack your brain for a reason. 

James bends down and grabs his backpack before standing up to his full and very intimidating height. You haphazardly gather your own items and fumble out into the aisle to let James out. 

“No rush! I’m just appreciative of any help I can get really,” he admits, raising his right hand and running it through the dark brunette tresses of his hair. 

“No yeah I totally get that! And I’m actually gonna ask my friend for some help tonight so I’ll even have some extra tips ready!” Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you do another glance back to see Steve giving you the look and you figure you shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer, “okay, sorry I have to go now, but it was really nice to meet you James! And thanks for liking my stickers,” 

Why you brought up the stickers, you’ll never know, but you can fight with yourself about that later. 

James lets out a boisterous laugh before answering, “It was my pleasure, Sugar. I’ll be sure to message you later,” 

You were thankful that James had turned around to talk to his friend as it made it easier for you to hide the shock on your face from the sweet pet name he threw out. Putting your hands up to quell the heat that had risen to your cheeks, you make your way to Steve. 

“You make a new friend?” He asks with a knowing smile. 

“Yeah! He said he needed help with this class so I told him we would exchange notes when I got home. Oh also can you go through the entire lecture with me?” 

Steve stared down at your shorter frame, letting out an amused snort and shaking his head in disbelief, “You’re going to exchange notes with a dude when you don’t even know what went on in the lecture today?” 

“umm…yes, yes I’m going to be doing exactly that unless you be a sweet little lamb and go over the notes with me so i can fix any mistakes!” You respond sweetly and grab onto Steve's hand to pull him closer to the doors, “pretty, pretty, pretty please?” 

He rolled his eyes and pulled his hand from your grasp before wrapping his arm around your shoulder, effectively pulling you into his side, “yeah yeah, ya know I might have to start charging you Honey Bee,” He leads you out of the building and you both begin making your way to the coffee shop on campus. 

[heldbybarnes]

girl! you crushed it, i loved your sleeptalking story and your fic for my last request

i was wondering—how do you feel about bucky x reader where he has a secret pinterest account that follows hers, to always get her the best gifts and know what’s on her mind?

~ 🩵

thank you 🥹 further, actually stfu, this sweet sweet man, who can barely operate an iphone, has. a. pinterest. AND ITS SECRET TO FOLLOW YOU?!?!?!

----------

Bucky Barnes is not a social media guy.

He doesn't understand TikTok trends, Instagram still confuses him ("Why is there a grid and a story?"), and Twitter—excuse me, X—sounds like a place for war criminals, not casual thoughts.

But Pinterest? Pinterest is his battlefield.

Because your Pinterest board? That’s where he finds intel.

And Bucky Barnes is nothing if not excellent at gathering intel.

At first, it was harmless. A casual peek over your shoulder while you were scrolling in bed, a little squint at your screen while you hummed something and saved another picture of a cozy fall porch with a chunky knit blanket and a tray of cider mugs. He didn’t get it, not fully. But you smiled. So he watched.

The next morning, he made his own account.

It took him half an hour to come up with a username that didn’t scream “Bucky Barnes,” eventually settling on NotBucky1941, thinking it was subtle. It was not.

Still, he figured out how to make secret boards. He started pinning everything you pinned—sweaters, jewelry, nail colors, quotes, little apartment décor things he couldn’t name but you seemed to love.

Soon, he had boards like:

“For Her Cozy Days” (which was mostly oversized cardigans and fuzzy socks)

“Things She Doesn’t Think I Notice” (hairclips, bubble tea orders, that very specific mushroom-shaped mug you pinned twice)

“Future Gifts She Won’t See Coming” (he was very proud of that one)

He didn’t tell anyone. Especially not you. You’d tease him. Or worse—stop pinning things entirely. He couldn’t risk it.

So he lurked. Silently. Lovingly. Like a Pinterest spy in soft flannel.

You only find out on accident.

It’s a rainy Sunday. You’re curled up on the couch, your laptop dead, and Bucky’s iPad lying within reach. He’s out grabbing coffee. You log in, planning to add a few fall recipes to your “Cinnamon Girl” board when you accidentally open the Pinterest app and—

Pause.

The account that’s logged in… is not yours.

It’s someone named NotBucky1941.

You frown.

Click.

And then your heart flips inside your chest like a gymnast.

Dozens—dozens—of secret boards.

Each one labeled with things that sound suspiciously like they’re about you.

“Her Favorite Gold Things.” “Fall Vibes She Likes.” “That Weird Niche Aesthetic She Explained Once.” “Candle Scents She Always Sniffs Twice.”

You click open a board titled “Books She’ll Cry Over.” It’s full of sad, romantic novels from your TBR list. Some you mentioned in passing, some you pinned weeks ago. There’s even one you tweeted about once but never saved anywhere. How did he even find it?

The iPad is still in your lap when Bucky walks through the door, soaked from the rain, coffee carrier in hand.

“Hey, doll,” he greets, kicking off his boots. “Got your drink with that… oat stuff you like—”

“Bucky.”

His head snaps up. You’re looking at him like you’ve found his deepest secret—and in a way, you have.

His eyes drop to the screen. He freezes.

“Shit.”

You hold the iPad like it’s evidence. “NotBucky1941?”

He cringes. “...It sounded more anonymous in my head.”

You don’t say anything. Just stare.

He sets the coffees down, shoulders tense. “Look, I—I just wanted to get you good gifts. I don’t always know what to buy and you like all these little things and I didn’t wanna ask ‘cause then you’d know—”

“Bucky.”

“—and I know it’s weird but I thought if I could just follow your boards without you noticing—"

“Bucky.”

“—then I’d be able to surprise you better, and I know I went a little overboard with the cozy socks—”

You stand up. Cross the room. Grip his face between your hands and kiss him, hard, cutting him off.

He blinks, dazed. “...Is that a good kiss or a you’re insane kiss?”

You smile, warm and slow. “That’s an I love you kiss, you weirdo.”

He exhales all at once, tension melting from his shoulders. “So… you’re not mad?”

“Mad? Bucky, I just found out the love of my life made an entire Pinterest archive of my brain.” You laugh, forehead pressed to his. “You even pinned the exact earrings I showed Nat last week.”

“They were in that ‘Sparkle Thoughts’ board you made.”

“You named a board after my board?”

He shrugs, bashful. “Had to keep it consistent.”

You shake your head, overcome with affection. “You are the softest spy I’ve ever met.”

He kisses your nose. “And you’re the only mission that matters.”

Later that week, a new board appears on NotBucky1941’s profile.

It’s not secret. It’s titled: “She Found Out. She Still Kept Me.”

And the description reads: best damn intel op I’ve ever run.

And now? You follow him.

Because if he’s going to stalk your pins… You’re going to stalk his right back.

And maybe pin a few subtle engagement ring ideas while you're at it.

Just for fun. You know. In case he’s still watching.

Which he absolutely is.

Always.

[buckys-baby-boy]

"I read the Hobbit, in 1937, when it first came out."

Ignoring the fact that the Hobbit didn't reach U.S shelves until 1938, that meant that James Buchanan Barnes who was born in either 1916 or 1917 (the Smithsonian gave two dates) read the Hobbit when he was around 20.

The Winter Soldier, the world's deadliest assassin, the Fist of Hydra, bragged about reading a children's book when he was twenty.

I already knew he was a nerd (bro can do trigonometry in his head) but c'mon. Clint should invite him to go LARPing, he'd love Ren Faire.

[lucca-stateofmind]

Everyone's been talking about the F4xNew Avengers meeting but hear me out

Alexei would give Sue and Reed unsollicited parenting advice and tell once again about his father having to pee for him not to die of hypothermia when the subject of sacrifice is brought up

Yelena meeting Franklin and remembering her talk with Natasha in Black Widow (ie. the heartbreaking 'did you ever wish for kids' question) She's just relieved a woman superhero had time to build a family even if that's not her wish

Sue not being the only woman in a man team anymore!

Some people mentionned beef between John and Johnny but I don't see it? Instead I picture Johnny asking Bucky unusual/intrusive questions about his metal arm as he is curious to whatever is close to Herbie

Ava and Ben would bond so fast over their physical and atomical similar situation (once again, chronic pain! Ava)

Space nerd! Johnny eyes shine after someone mentions Bob is 'as strong as a thousand stars' because, even if an euphemism, he knows how powerful that is and how powerful Bob must be

[unicorndaydreamz]

how i look reading fanfiction on my ipad

[nerdbrazil]

[donteverblameash]

While we love the headcanon that Peter Parker would ask Steve for help with his history homework, bold of you to assume Steve Rogers of all people could help.

He was too busy doodling all over his school books, getting his ass beat, or dying to worry about stupid (his words, not mine) history class.

"Finale battle of the Civil War- Peter, kid, I have no idea, uh- BUCKY! Was I in school when we learned about the Civil War and stuff, the one in the 1800s? No? I had- what? Yel- Okay! No, Queens, I had yellow fever, you gotta ask Bucky."

[marvel-lous-guy]

Tony: here, hold this *hands Peter a wrench*

Peter: *now holding 17 wrenches* I think I'm gonna drop it

Tony: You're fine

*loud clang and crash*

Peter: I dropped it

Clint: *from the vents* 16! I repeat, he can hold 16 wrenches! Who had the bet for 16?

Tony: Damn it! You couldn't have held one more wrench, kid!?

Peter: ...what is going on?

Steve: *from upstairs* BUCKY WON! AGAIN!

Clint: DAMN YOU BARNES!

Tony: Thats 4 rounds Barnes has won now! How does he do it!?

Bucky: *from upstairs* I'M JUST A REALLY GOOD GUESSER

Clint: This is bullshit! He's cheating!

Peter: Not that I understand remotely what's going on... but how would he cheat?

Clint: Well I dont know that! If I knew how you could cheat at this bet dont ya think I'd have won by now!

[geeky-politics-46]

Random Headcanon thoughts...

You cannot convince me this guy is not a big nerd. Ladies man and hottie though he is. Steve was starting fights in the 40's he wanted to go to a science convention. This man would have been a Trekkie.

Bucky is a huge Star Trek fan.

He's a sci-fi nerd all around. He's not anti-Star Wars or anything. He just prefers Star Trek. Although he does wonder now if Lemar picked his codename because of Battlestar Galactica.

That is the future he was promised and the modern world is sorely disappointing in that way.

He is so bummed that replicators and holodecks aren't real. I mean come on, replicators would have solved the great depression food scarcity?! Why is that not a higher priority?!

If the military in the 1930s/1940s was as science & discovery focused as Starfleet, he would have actually signed up instead of getting drafted. (If you are confused about this see debates over his army id number)

The idea that money is no longer used because people do things driven to improve the quality of life for everyone hits him deep, having grown up in the depression. He remembers all the suffering caused by lack of money. He hates that homelessness is still such an issue, especially among vets and those with mental or health issues.

The Borg are his least favorite alien species/villain. Far too reminiscent of his time as the Winter Soldier and the time he's spent learning not to detest his cybernetic arm.

That being said, he does feel a deep personal connection to 7 of 9's story arc. Going from being the bad guy who was taken against his will to a hero is something he has been & is living himself. He feels like 7 would understand all of the complicated feelings he has about himself.

If you ask him, he'll say his favorite captain is Picard. Maybe Kirk sometimes. In reality, he's a Janeway guy. He loves strong women & he feels just as strongly about coffee as she does.

He has started picking up Klingon. The whole team turns when they hear him call John a petaQ while arguing one day. He doesn't even realize he did it until they ask what the hell it means.

He has 100% bought Alpine a stuffed tribble.

Im sure there will be more added to this gradually. I accidentally hit publish before I was ready so I'm finishing this in a hurry.

Back to main masterlist

--------------------------------

Bucky Barnes taglist: let me know if you want to be added! I've got several Bucky stories in the works.