#i was tryna think what a good background would be and settled on Fish

[pleucas]

happy birthday to the scheming, fishy guy

[buckysbabygorl]

They’re Playing Our Song (Part 1)

Summary: Y/N has no idea how to dance, and Bucky insists on teaching her

Warnings: None

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word Count: 2,387

Masterlist

Bucky stood alone in the kitchen, his hair settled nicely in a low bun as he stirred the boiling pasta, Duke Ellington playing softly in the background.

He finally had the compound to himself, with the rest of the team out at one of Tony’s fancy galas to promote a new invention he’d whipped up; something to do with his micro-technology.

Bucky hadn’t listened very well to the details, excited at the idea of having time to himself. Since his therapy in Wakanda had concluded, he’d been bombarded with team exercises, missions, and press conferences discussing his recovery and being one of the team’s newest additions. Bucky had grown to love the team as if they were his own family, and after a long process; reconciled with Tony to the point of civility, even going as far to say develop a friendship.

Yes, he’d loved all of them dearly, but my god were they overwhelming. They were boisterous and energetic, it reminded him of the Howling Commandos from all those years ago…

But as of late; with things like press, adjusting to the team, awaiting the public’s full acceptance of him, as well as Tony’s… it was all a bit too much. Bucky just needed some time to himself; cook some of his mother’s recipes and listen to his Dad’s old records. Though he didn’t have the actual records, Spotify was just as good. He reminisced as he listened and cooked; thinking of his father twirling his mother in their kitchen while the radio played, his sister and him watching from the dinner table. They had both passed away when he was very young, but it comforted him to remember how happy they’d been in the time they had.

Bucky had been adding some spices to his sauce, when he heard the slow shuffling of feet coming down the hallway. He’d thought everyone had left, and was surprised to see Y/N sleepily entering the kitchen.

“Oh, hey Buck. I didn’t know you were here.” Y/N was just as surprised to see him, expecting everyone to have left by now. Bucky looked over her figure, her clothes rustled from sleep and hair slightly messy.

He smiled, “Hey Y/N. Isn’t it a little late to be getting up?”

Y/N grinned tiredly at his teasing, “Took a nap, little tired from today.”

She yawned as she recounted to Bucky the day’s events; she and Nat had returned from a mission in Barcelona. Clearly the time difference hadn’t affected Nat as much as it had Y/N, as soon as they got off the plane Nat had been buzzing with excitement for the gala. She pleaded with Y/N to come, but she wearily declined.

“-Besides, I’m not much of a party person anyways.”

Bucky nodded in understanding, “I get it. But I'm surprised you didn’t go, this could’ve been your big debut kid.”

Y/N had recently joined the team, only a short time before Bucky. With his new arrival, she had been somewhat washed over as the press became focused on Bucky. Not that she minded of course, Y/N wasn’t one to beg for the spotlight, content to be doing the work she needed to do behind the scenes. 

Y/N scoffed at that, “I think I would’ve got a little lost in the crowd.”

Bucky laughed, and Y/N raised her eyebrows in question. “What? You don’t think so?”

Bucky continued stirring his sauce, “You? Never. You light up a room, doll.” 

With his back turned from her, he didn’t see Y/N’s reddened cheeks as she laughed. Bucky had always been one to playfully praise and flirt, she knew there wasn’t a heavy tone to it but she couldn’t help but be flattered by his remarks. He often complimented her in small ways; in fine details about her character. An ovation of her laugh, a regard of her kindness.

Y/N always wanted to return the favour, but she didn’t know how to approach it as casually as he did; she couldn’t with how seriously she meant them.

But what Y/N took as ‘pats on the back’ from Bucky actually held much more admiration than she was aware. Bucky was completely infatuated with her. And to everyone else, he was transparent in his affections. But he knew Y/N; she was shy, soft-spoken, and completely oblivious to any attention that ever came her way. 

Of course she was strong, powerful. She was a part of the team after all, but the hero you are on the battlefield doesn’t always reflect the person you are at home. She was clueless.

So he’d patiently wait and once she took notice of what had been blatantly handed to her all this time, he would let her decide what to do with it. The day she took notice, if it ever came, he would go from there. And if by any chance she liked him back, Bucky would be the happiest man in the world. He just had to be patient.

“Well, even if you’re right,” she started, “I don’t know if I’d really fit in there. The talking, the loud music, and I’m not much of a drinker… two glasses of champagne and I’d be done.” Y/N hopped up onto the kitchen counter as Bucky cooked, swinging her legs back and forth over the edge.

Bucky shrugged as he poured the sauce over the pasta, “You get used to it.” He admitted. Back in his day, he had been a social butterfly but it hadn’t come easy. His family had been fortunate enough during the Great Depression, and he followed his father along to crowded events with big wigs and party goers. After many introductions to strangers by his father, Bucky had to learn to socialize. He picked up the conversations, he poured drinks, he took girls out to dance. He became a true charmer.

“I had to learn when I was younger, it’s kind of like acting. Before you know it, you’ve learned to play the part perfectly.”

Y/N hummed in interest, “Then why didn’t you go tonight? Seemed like it’d be right up your alley.”

Bucky thought a moment as he prepared their plates, that had all been then. The bright eyed kid from Brooklyn, before the war. This was now, after everything he’d been through…

“Just not ready yet doll,” he responded honestly, “But someday, just you wait. I’ll shmooze up to all the suits, I’ll fit right in. Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get a dance out of me.” Bucky winked as he handed Y/N her plate, chuckling as she rolled her eyes.

“God I hope not.” She said, hopping off the counter and moving to the table. 

Bucky feigned offence, “What? Scared I’ll step on your toes?”

He sat down, handing her a knife and fork as he joined her.

“Not at all,” she said. Y/N twirled her noodles with her fork, raising it to her lips, “truth is; I’d probably step on yours.”

Bucky chuckled, “You a bad dancer?”

“Not necessarily, just don’t know how.”

Bucky set down his own fork and looked at her in disbelief, “Whaddya mean you don’t know how?”

Y/N giggled at his outburst, “I’ve never danced before! Why is that so surprising?”

Bucky exhaled in frustration, “The people of today, I swear… how do you not know how to dance? That was the first thing my Mama ever taught me how to do properly!”

Y/N had grown up on a small farm in Iowa, any leisure time was spent running errands or helping out her parents. Dancing had been the last thing on their list of priorities; not that they’d had many dances in town. Though there was the Annual Hot Dish Tuna Fish jamboree, but Y/N often found herself too busy to go. Or dateless.

“I never had the time!” She admitted, “Wasn’t exactly on the top of my ‘to-do list’ Sarge.”

A soft trumpet had announced itself from the speaker, shortly after followed by Louis Armstrong’s scatting. Bucky smiled, wiping his mouth with his napkin before standing.

“Then I’m going to teach you.”

He stuck his hand out to Y/N as she looked at him, surprised.

“What, now?”

“Yes, now. No time better than the present” He reached for her hands, gently tugging her to rise and join him in the open space. 

He felt Y/N tense a little as he placed a hand on the small of her back, other hand curling up into hers as he raised their arms together. “This okay?”

Y/N nodded, shyly looking down to her feet as Louis’ sung. “Uh, yeah. Yeah! I just, I dunno I feel silly.”

Bucky smiled as his brows furrowed, “We haven’t even started. You can’t look stupid not doing nothing.”

Y/N giggled, “Careful, your Brooklyn’s slipping out.”

Bucky shrugged slightly as he adjusted his hands on her, “Music brings it out of me I think.”

“Well, it’s quite charming. I can see how you’d get girls to dance with you back in the day.” She admitted.

Bucky thought back to the dive bars in the 30’s, the church dances, the jazz bands; and all the pretty girls he dipped and twirled to each and every song. Bucky had never been without a dance partner; but he couldn’t recall one he’d enjoyed having in his presence as much as her.

“I did have a number of gals to practice with, yes. But I’m tryna focus on this girl in front of me.” He teased.

“Right, right,” Y/N shook her head of her thoughts, “Sorry, continue.”

“So,” Bucky pulled her in closer to his hips, “I’ll give you some breathing room, but you’ve gotta get a little close. Helps me lead you.”

“Okay…” Y/N nipped her bottom lip in concentration, nearly halting Bucky’s thought process all together, “Now what?”

“Right, um,” Bucky rolled his shoulders to relax himself, “Don't be so stiff. Remember this is fun, just let loose.”

“You’re telling the wrong person to let loose.” Y/N remarked.

“Oh c’mon, I’ve seen you drink with Wilson, I know you can let loose.”

He slid his arm against her, curving his right elbow beneath her left arm. Y/N could feel the heat of his hand through her cotton shirt, and felt herself tense again.

“Relax, I’ve got you.”

She didn’t realize how close he’d been, the low rumble of his voice echoing in her ear. She felt herself shiver.

“I know you do.”

He smiled softly, “Place your left hand a bit higher. Now you just move with me.”

He guided her to the left, their feet shifting slowly with the beat of the music. As Y/N realized that there wasn’t much more to it than that, she felt herself ease into him more, into the soft music… they stayed that way awhile, comfortably swaying.

“See, it’s not that bad.” Bucky comforted, gently spinning them to the lyrics.

Y/N bit the inside of her cheek, “I guess not. It’s easy with you at least, I couldn’t say the same if I had a different partner.”

Bucky watched as her lip pulled into a soft grin, and a feeling of boldness grew in his chest.

“I guess you’ll just have to keep all your dances for me, then.”

Perfectly timed, the trumpets picked up and Bucky clutched her tightly, dipping her down with his strong arms.

Y/N’s eyes lit up as she happily giggled. She held on tightly but knew he’d pick her up with ease. 

His became confident then, as he pulled her back to him before lifting her into the air. He started spinning as his strong hands rested against the skin of her thighs, holding her up. She couldn’t help but laugh as she looked to the ceiling, hands firmly gripping his shoulders. He was in awe then, over the moon to know that he was the cause of the happiness in those eyes. She looked back to him as he lowered her, feeling lighter than she had in months. She hadn’t had a moment like this in a long time; doing something new and fun, in the arms of someone she… trusted.

“Feeling good, doll?” He asked.

Her laugh was more melodic than the brass instruments, she was at a complete loss for words; fair too lost in the moment to give him a proper response.

“Again!” She exclaimed.

Bucky happily obliged, lifting her again as they both laughed. 

They weren’t sure when the trumpets died down, or when the next song began. Or the song after that, or the song after that. They could’ve danced for hours, and maybe they did. They only separated when the team drunkenly stumbled in from their gala.

No one took note of their closeness, too disoriented from their own night of dancing and drinking.

They all talked about nothing important; remarking over the night's moments that Bucky and Y/N wouldn’t really understand unless they had been there. 

But, neither of them really minded. They had shared moments of their own that had been worth missing the silly party.

They didn’t say a proper goodbye, Y/N mumbling a quick goodnight to him as the team settled in the main room.

“Awe c’mon, you’re not gonna say?” An inebriated Banner called out.

Y/N smiled sweetly, shaking her head. “Not tonight, I’m still pretty beat from Barcelona. But keep the party going for me.”

A chorus of disappointed groans filled the room, as well as a few joyous ‘goodnights’. Bucky watched as she exited, wanting to call out, wanting to do something. It didn’t feel right ending it like that. He felt like the moment was fleeting him now; like he was losing something special.

Defeated, he turned back to join the others.

“Hey.”

A soft voice called out, forcing Bucky to turn back. Y/N peeked around the corner, hand raised to wave slightly. “Thanks for tonight, I needed that.”

Bucky smirked slightly, but before he could respond, Y/N had already turned away and started down the hall.

It hadn’t been tonight, but maybe next time Bucky could say more. Maybe next time, he could say what he really wanted.

~

Masterlist

Author’s note: SO! I literally suck at finishing series, I know I have so many others to write as well as requests (I haven’t forgotten dw), but I’ve been wanting to write this fic for so long, I wanted it to be perfect and I think I’ve finally gotten it right with this one. Hoping to update my other fics soon! Let me know what y’all think, and let me know if you want to be added to the master list and/or list for this series xoxox

Songs referenced are:

The Gal from Joe’s by Duke Ellington

When You’re Smiling by Louis Armstrong

Master list: @babyblue-07 @pinkdiamond1016 @fandomsfallnomore @elliee1497