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scxrletivy · 6 days ago

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Like in the 40s

Description: you and Bucky are good friends; he has told you a lot about his life in the 40s, but you're curious about what dating was like back then. So you go on a date, which has an unexpected ending. Or: two idiots in love who only need a little push.

The story is set after Civil War; the Avengers are all a big family and there's no Thanos (sue me, I needed to comfort myself).

Author's note: sooo... this is my first attempt at writing here. I've always loved writing but in the last years I stopped because I felt like I had completely lost my inspiration. Then I saw Thunderbolts, fell in love again with Bucky and here I am! Just so you know, English is not my first language, so forgive me for possible mistakes.

Word count: 2.7k.

This story is my original work and I do not give permission for anyone to copy, share or repost it anywhere without my explicit consent.

“So, how was dating in the 40s?”

You were lounging on the couch in Bucky’s room, reading a book. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon at the Tower. You and Bucky hadn’t been called up with the team for a recon mission in Eastern Europe; the last job you had been assigned had been difficult, so Tony had decided that it was better to let you stay put. Normally you would’ve complained, but you had seen how shaken Bucky was after the last mission and you were more than happy to stay and keep him company.

You had felt an inexplicable bond with him ever since you had seen him for the first time in Bucharest all those years ago; it had been a long and bumpy road: you had been through some truly hard times, but it had all led you there.

It was clear Bucky liked your company as well; it had been difficult for him to become part of the group: he felt like he did not deserve to get a second chance, he always felt like he needed to make amends. Even after Tony had officially forgiven him for what had happened, repeating at least a thousand times that he was not responsible for his parents’ death, you knew Bucky still felt like he did not belong. You had talked about it with Steve oftentimes; you two were the closest with Bucky and did everything in you power to help him feel as at ease as possible. It was clear that Bucky was comfortable with you; you could spend hours together, strolling around the city, watching movies, simply being silent.

Or reading, like that day. You were laying on his couch, while he was sitting on the floor with his head on the cushion. For the longest time you had tried to convince him to stop sitting on the floor; then, you had realised that it was something he needed sometimes. You had even tried to sit beside him, but he categorically refused to let you lay on the floor.

That afternoon, you had been reading for a few hours. But you were starting to feel bored. So, you had closed the book and put it down on your stomach. Then you had asked Bucky the question.

He was confused for a moment.

“What?”

“How was dating in the 40s?” you repeated, turning on your side. “I’m curious, you know… you’ve told me so much about your life back then, but that’s a topic we’ve never talked about and, to be honest, I’m really curious.”

Bucky put down the book and turned around as well, to look you in the eyes. He chuckled.

“I mean, it’s not like I’ve been on a thousand dates, you know…” for a moment he seemed to lose himself in the memories. “I went on a few dates, but then I was shipped off to war and… you know the rest…”

You put a comforting hand on his shoulder. You felt bad all of a sudden, the last thing you wanted was to bring him back to darker times. He had opened up with you about many of the awful things he had lived through and you had spent many nights holding him while he told you about what he remembered from the 70 years of torture, fighting back tears but feeling something break inside at the thought of him going through all that. Still, you were aware of the fact that there were things he had not shared – and probably never would – and never pushed him to talk or asked him directly. You were more than happy to listen if he needed to talk. You were about to open your mouth to tell him you didn’t mean to upset him, but he preceded you.

He got up and gently moved you to sit on the couch; then he let you get comfortable near him.

“I remember this one girl I went on a few dates with, Dolores. I saved all the money I had to take her out and blew three bucks just to try to win her a stuffed bear. When I got home I didn’t have the guts to tell my parents I had spent all the money I had,” he let out a soft laugh. “I can tell you it was quite different compared to today. I don’t have much experience about how things are nowadays, if I’m being honest, but I’ve heard things here and there and let me assure you, things have really changed. Now everyone is more relaxed, back then even holding hands was a big deal. I almost got in trouble more times than I can count.”

He was fully laughing by that point.

“Oh, I can imagine you. James Buchanan Barnes, you big flirt!”

“Don’t make fun of me, doll, I had moves”

“Oh, I believe you”

You were silent for a second, then you took the courage to ask a question that had been nagging you for quite a while.

“Do you ever think about trying dating again?”

He sighed and began tracing circles on your shoulder.

“Sometimes I think about it, but I mean… you know how it is with our lives, we’re not really normal people with ordinary lives. Plus, all my baggage. It’s not like I can begin a date by saying ‘Hi, I’m Bucky, I’m a 106-year-old ex-assassin, do you like pizza?’… Besides, I don’t know if I’d be good at all the modern stuff. Peter told me about something called situationships and I’ll tell you, doll, my heart almost fell out of my chest”

You laughed. You could perfectly imagine the shocked expression on Bucky’s face. You could not begin to imagine how disorienting and confusing it could be for him to discover all the new aspects of modern life and you deeply admired how much Bucky pushed himself and put himself out there to try new things; it was hard for him, but he was brave.

The words got out of your mouth before you knew it.

“We could go on a date. We could do everything like back then, like you used to do in the 40s”, you straightened to look him in the eyes.

He was silent for a moment, and you felt suddenly nervous, realising what you had just proposed to him.

“I mean, we don’t have to… it’s just, I want to do something nice for you, to make you feel good. I know you miss the old times and it might be cute, like time-travel”, you said shyly.

Bucky delicately took your hand.

“I think that’s a great idea, sweetheart. Tomorrow night, 6 p.m. sharp. I’ll take care of everything.”

You checked the time on your phone for the umpteenth time. 5.56 p.m.

Bucky told you he was going to pick you up at you room’s door, like a gentleman; you had spent the last two hours deciding what to wear, how to do your make up, how to fix your hair… you kept repeating to yourself that it didn’t matter, it wasn’t an official date, it was only a ‘fake’ date with your best friend Buck. But your heart was hammering in your chest. Because – if you were truly being honest with yourself – then no, it was not only a fake date with a friend. Bucky wasn’t just a friend. You had realised the depth of your feelings for him when you had been fighting Thanos, in Wakanda; Bucky had been hit and you swore you felt your heart stop for a second. It was a sudden realisation: you loved him, he had slowly but steadily become a fundamental part of you and you couldn’t lose him. In the aftermath of the fight, you had considered telling him; but you knew you were an important person for him – an important friend – and you had decided to suppress your feelings. Bucky needed your support as a friend. Two years had passed and you were still harbouring an unrequited crush for the Brooklyn boy.

In that moment, you deeply regretted suggesting the date. Who in their right mind would suggest a romantic date with the guy they loved, who didn’t love them back. It was assured heartbreak: you were going to experience how it would’ve felt to be Bucky’s girlfriend, only to go back to being his friend afterwards. You’d probably be devastated; you’d go back to her room, watch a romcom and cry yourself to sleep.

You were brought back to reality by three knocks on her door; you took a deep breath and opened it, to reveal an image that almost knocked the wind out of you. Bucky was standing in front of you, wearing a deep blue Henley and jeans that fit him snugly. And, in his hands, he was carrying a bouquet of light-pink peonies. Your favourite flowers. He had remembered.

He was the first to talk.

“Hi doll, you look beautiful”

“Thanks Buck, you look really handsome too,” you answered, blushing.

He looked at her straight in the eyes and smiled. Then he handed her the bouquet.

“These are for you, sweetheart”

You took them and delicately inhaled the perfume.

“Thank you Bucky, you didn’t need to”

“Nonsense, doll. You wanted the full 40s experience… well, there you have it”

You shook your head, suppressing a smile. “Let me find a vase and then we can go”, you said.

The restaurant Bucky had chosen was not too distant from the Tower, so you decided to walk and enjoy the late spring breeze. The sun was setting, casting beautiful shades of orange, yellow and red.

The conversation was flowing, as it always did between you two: talking with Bucky was easy, as easy as breathing. You were having a heated discussion about the last movie you had watched together when, all of a sudden, Bucky took your hand in his. You were startled: sure, you guys were close, but you knew that physical affection was still a sensitive topic for him. You were willing to take every little piece of himself he gave you, but you were never going to force him to do anything, so each little gesture meant the world to you. You turned your head to look at him, wondering if he was feeling as panicky as you, but he was completely calm; he gave you a little smile and kept talking.

After a few minutes of walking and talking, you reached the restaurant; it was a cosy place, with little candle-lit rooms and a nice atmosphere. Bucky was the perfect gentleman, opening the door for you, then helping you with the chair and asking your opinion regarding the foods on the menu so you could share.

“The pasta seems good, but I also kinda want to try the risotto” you commented, biting your lip.

“You’ll get the pasta and I’ll get the risotto, and then we can share” replied Bucky with a stunning smile.

You smiled. It was shaping up to be a great night.

By the time the first dishes arrived, you had already drunk a glass of wine and it had definitely helped ease the nerves you were feeling before. You felt stupid for having been worried: at the end of the day, you were spending time with your best friend; you were willing to accept to be Bucky’s friend and nothing more if it meant having him in your life.

“Mmmh, it’s incredible”, you uttered when you tried the pasta. You closed your eyes for a second to savour the feeling and when you opened them again, Bucky was looking at you with a strange look in his eyes.

“The risotto is just as good. Here, try it” he said, scooping up some of the pasta with the fork and offering to him.

However, instead of taking the utensil from you, he took the bite of food directly from the fork. You flushed a deep red.

“I thought it was supposed to be a date like one in the 40s”, you said with a teasing smile, “but I’m pretty sure this is way too forward”

“Like you said, doll, I was a charmer. It was the 40s, but I still knew how to properly seduce a dame” he chuckled.

He was looking at you like he wanted to eat you up; you felt naked under his eyes and even hopeful, for a second, that maybe you were not imagining things, that maybe you weren’t the only one who wanted something more out of your relationship. You shook the thought as soon as it came. You couldn’t dare to hope. The heartbreak would be too devastating.

“Oh, I’m sure you were a Casanova… we’ve all heard Steve’s stories about the ladies falling at your feet” you deflected.

“You know, Steve exaggerates sometimes… I wasn’t that big of a flirt, all things considered”

“Sargeant Barnes, lying is bad, you know?”

“Are you by any chance suggesting that I’m a liar? You wound me, doll. You know I’m a man of honour”

He took your hand and began rubbing circles on your wrist. You felt electric, like a current was flowing through your veins lighting up all of your nerves.

Yeah, he was trying to kill you.

The rest of the meal passed in a blur, between bites of shared food and flirty comments from Bucky. Instead of ordering dessert, he suggested to take a walk and get ice cream; he was the perfect gentleman, helping you with the chair, paying for dinner and immediately taking your hand once you got out of the restaurant. He let you try his ice cream and offered you his jacket when you began shivering in the cool air of the night.

When you arrived in front of the Tower, you felt a deep sense of panic set in your bones; the entire elevator ride, you couldn’t help but playing with your hands anxiously. You had had a great time with Bucky and you couldn’t help but imagining how it would’ve felt to be his girlfriend and be able to go on dates with him all the time; you knew you shouldn’t have thought about your friend in such a way, but it was impossible for you to stop wondering how it would’ve felt to kiss him, feel his lips on yours and cuddle up against him.

You were shaken from your thoughts when the elevator chimed; you had reached you floor.

Bucky let you get out first; ever the perfect gentleman, he led you to your room. When you reached your door, you slowly opened it and turned to look at him. He was so handsome, with his hair slicked back and the playful gleam in his eyes.

You were ready to thank him for the perfect night, close the door, change into a comfortable pajama and wallow in self-pity, when Bucky took your hand and spoke.

“Doll…” he looked at you straight in the eyes. His gaze held an intensity you had rarely witnessed and you felt your stomach do a flip.

“I really hope I’m not reading this whole situation wrong because I would hate to lose you. But I can’t be silent anymore,” he took your other hand as well and brought it to his chest “you are the best part of my day. Sharing coffee with you, reading together, doing nothing… every single moment together feels like a gift from life, a privilege I never thought I deserved anymore. You make me feel like I can finally stop fighting and running from myself, my past and my demons.”

He got closer and you felt your heart skip a beat.

“I think you feel the same and I’m quite sure I’m not mistaken. So, doll, if you’re okay with it, I’d really like to kiss you… and maybe take you out on another date.”

You were completely stunned; you felt you had lost the ability to speak and you didn’t even trust yourself to be able to form a coherent thought. So, you did the only reasonable thing. You stood on your tiptoes and kissed him. He was shook at first, clearly not expecting you to take the lead, but he immediately returned the kiss.

It wasn’t fireworks and bombs going off. It was a calm, quiet feeling of peace.

When you broke the kiss, Bucky put his forehead on yours and closed his eyes. You finally spoke.

“I know I asked for a date like in the forties, but you know… I wouldn’t be opposed to you coming into my room and kissing me some more…”

He let out a soft laugh. Maybe things had change a little bit compared to the Forties but hell, he definitely wasn't complaining.

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