#not tagging anyone bc I don’t know if people on my Taglist want mcu content

[hellotvshowtrash]

The four times Bucky tries to tell you he loves you and the one time he does.

Warnings: fluffflufffluffflufffluff none zip zero, Bucky being a love struck goofy boy

Word count: 1.8k

Requested by the wonderful @divine-mistake 💗 I hope you enjoy it!!

There are like zero gifs of Bucky smiling so have Seb smiling

The first time Bucky tries to tell you he loves you, his throat dries up and he forgets how to form words. You’re on a walk at dusk, strolling around the neighborhood and he sees how the orange sunset light gleams through your hair, creating colours and highlights he’s not sure he’s ever seen before and he’s staring at you. You notice him out of the corner of your eye and you squeeze his hand gently.

“You’re staring,” you say. You turn your head to look at him and smile. His face is filled with adoration for you and sometimes you wonder if you’re the first woman he’s ever really seen.

He sputters a bit and looks away, his aqua eyes glinting in the sun. “I just-,” I love you. He clears his throat, his voice is raspy and he can’t seem to remember how to speak, so he says the first thing that comes to mind, “I think you’re beautiful.” He says simply. You smile at him again and he curses himself for not saying it when it felt right.

-

The second time Bucky tries to tell you he loves you isn’t through words at all, but through acts of service. Bucky takes the spare key to your apartment that you gave him and lets himself in while you’re at work. He waits anxiously, not entirely sure that he even has a plan and before he can think of one, he’s pacing and cleaning your space, taking the garbage out, vacuuming the floor, making your bed. All meticulously done and he takes pride in his work. When you step through your front door, you’re surprised to see him there, ready to take your coat and bag from you to hang them up in the coat closet.

“Bucky! I didn’t expect you here, or for you to clean my house?” You trail off slightly, making it more of a question than a statement.

“I just couldn’t wait to see you,” he smiles softly at you as he walks back over to you from the closet. “How was your day, baby?” He takes your hand and kisses it while leading you to the living room where there’s a ready cup of tea waiting for you on the coffee table, right next to the book you’ve been reading. You furrow your brows and look at him suspiciously.

He sits you down at the couch and he sits next to you, patting his lap. Your eyes light up as you realize what he's gesturing for. You lay on the couch next to him, resting your head in his lap. His hand drops to your hair and starts playing with it as you start talking about your day. He laughed with you and chatted with you about the events of the day. He could listen to your voice for days if you’d let him.

“Thank you for this, Bucky,” you say after he’s made you laugh. He’s startled by the sudden change of tone, but smiles at your eye contact.

He continues to stroke your hair, smiling down at you. “You’re welcome, doll.” I love you.

-

The third time Bucky tries to tell you he loves you is lavish and elegant and expensive. He’s dressed in his best suit and he makes sure to get a tie in your favourite colour. He drives to your apartment, his vibranium fingers tapping the steering wheel nervously as he whistles to himself. He parks his car and exits, practically sprinting to your apartment but he holds himself together, making himself presentable as he knocks on your door. He’s adjusting his coat and fumbling with the buttons when you open the door and you are stunning. He feels his jaw practically fall to the floor as he takes you in, floor length dress fitting your curves perfectly, hugging you in all the right places. You bite your lip to prevent your grin when you see him, his gaze on you is hungry and amazed and god, how could someone like her be with me?

“You clean up nicely.” You greet him with a warm smile. This shakes him from his trance and his starry eyes meet yours.

“Thank you, darlin’,” he replies. He holds his arm out to you and you take it, locking the door behind you as you leave.

The car ride is filled with joyful conversation and laughter and it’s always easy with Bucky. It’s always warm and comforting and easy. He makes it easy. You find yourself getting lost, thinking about how easy it is to love Bucky and before you know it he’s putting the car in park and taking his seatbelt off.

“You ready?” He asks with a smile. You nod at him and he exits the car, coming around to open your door and escort you out. He takes your hand in his and leads you to your destination.

The night is spent eating, drinking, dancing and and gazing, gazing at Bucky gazing at you as he twirls you and catches you in his arms, craning his neck to place his chin on your shoulder. His arms envelope you from behind and you close your eyes contentedly as you sway on the elegant dance floor to the soft music.

“This is amazing,” you whisper. I love you.

“A beautiful girl deserves a beautiful night,” he whispers back. I love you.

—

The fourth time Bucky tries to tell you he loves you is the same night he spoils you. You invited him to stay the night and now he’s laying next to you, tangled in your sheets with you tucked into his side, head on his arm. Your breathing leveled out twenty minutes ago and he’s been staring at the ceiling, his mind reeling with thoughts and daydreams, the kind he never wants to be rid of. He’s getting lost in thoughts of you and he starts whispering to himself.

“You’re just so perfect,” he whispers. “I never thought I’d get a second chance, and I found my second chance in you. I’ve known one person in my life to stay with me, and when I lost him I thought I lost everything.” He thought of Steve fondly, the ache of that loss numbed with time. He drew circles on your back lightly with his fingertips, feeling your warm skin beneath his.

“Doll, I don’t know who I am without you, and I don’t want to know.” His eyes drift in the darkness, his gaze dropping to you next to him and he kisses the top of your head. You stir from the contact but don’t wake up and he sighs, a small smile on his face.

“I love you,” he says aloud to you. The statement falls on deaf ears but Bucky considers it to be good practice.

—

The time Bucky tells you he loves you for the first time isn’t what he was planning.

You awake the next morning to find yourself spooning a pillow instead of the super soldier, confusion sweeping over your still half asleep face.

You hear the clamoring before you can put two and two together, metal on metal coming from the kitchen in your apartment. You stand and yawn, wiping the sleep from your eyes as you stumble out of your room clad in your pajamas from the night before. You step out into the light to find Bucky fumbling to plate some eggs he had cooked up.

“Hey handsome,” you slide into the kitchen behind him, wrapping your arms around his waist as he finishes up breakfast.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he says huskily. His voice is still raspy from sleep. You smile and squeeze him before letting go and moving around to the other side of the bar, plopping down on a barstool. He slides a full plate to you, complete with eggs, toast and hash browns. You smile and thank him as you bite into the food, groaning in happiness.

“This is delicious.” You say enthusiastically and he laughs, taking a bite from his own plate. “What’s gotten into you?” You asked nonchalantly.

Bucky freezes when you ask the question. Had it been that obvious? He had struggled to find words around you lately and it was because there were only three that could accurately express what’s been on his mind lately. He opens his mouth to speak and shuts it again, unsure of where to go from here.

“Doll, I-,” he stops himself and clenches his jaw. He’s frustrated with himself but he’s so scared that he could break something so important with those words, something so precious to him. You look at him, doe eyed and expectant. He’s cute when he’s flustered, you think to yourself.

“Buck, whatever’s going on, you can tell me,” you say gently as you reach your arm across the countertop and weave your fingers through his vibranium ones. He swallows hard and blinks, his eyes look glassy and wet. You tilt your head, concern washing over you as you realize this might be something serious.

“I love you,” he blurts out and before he can stop his lips from forming the words, they’re already moving again, “I’ve loved you since I laid my eyes on you and I can’t get you out of my head, I don’t want to get you out of my head, and I have a track record of wanting things out of my head,” he chuckles as he rambles, “I don’t think I ever thought I’d get lucky enough to find you, but I know I’ll never let you go.” His voice becomes quieter now, more solemn as his gaze bores into you, looking for some reaction. He becomes panicked when the look on your face only reflects shock and you blink slowly.

He realizes his eyes have filled with tears only after one slips down his cheek and he hurriedly brushes it away. Your fingers are still laced with his and he gives a gentle squeeze, trying to prompt you into speaking. He’s busy containing the storm that rages inside when you sigh and one of your own tears falls down your cheek and you smile, a relieved, genuine, in love grin.

“God, Buck, you scared me!” You exclaim and laugh. Bucky turns his head, still nervous and now unsure of the situation. You stand from your seat at the bar and walk back around to stand in front of him. He swallows hard again as you look up into his eyes. “I thought it was something bad! I love you, too, you goof.” You said. His own grin breaks onto his face and his arms wrap around you, picking you up against his chest. You squeeze him back tightly. The grin is still smeared across your face as he kisses you with renewed ferocity and passion.

He’s told you he loves you. Now he needs to show you.