Chapter Text
“Grape?”
“Sure.”
Sam hurls the grape at your face and it bounces off your forehead.
“You dick.”
He snorts and turns back to the bacon sizzling on the stove.
You hear the pop of a grape skin behind you and turn to see Steve chewing, eyes crinkled with amusement.
“It really was a good shot,” Steve grins. Sam laughs as he moves the bacon to a plate and places it on the island.
“So what’s on your agenda today?”
You follow a swig of your coffee with the crunching of bacon.
“I’m mostly herding this fool around,” you gesture to Sam, as you reply to Steve. “He has a couple interviews lined up with news magazines so he can explain what a hero Redwing is.”
You subtly glance at Bucky, who is sitting at the table reading the paper. You see him smirk softly, though he doesn’t look up. In spite of yourself, you feel pride well up anytime you make him smile, no matter how slight. Unfortunately for Sam, this means you are all too willing to make him the butt of the joke as it is one of the easiest ways to achieve your goal.
Another grape bounces off your head. Steve catches that one, too.
“Lucky for you, I showered this morning.”
Bucky stands up and brushes against you on his way to refill his coffee. After he pours his, he starts to head back to his seat, when he pauses and looks at you.
“More?”
“Please.”
He fills your cup and nods at your thanks. This is how it goes with him. Quiet and reserved. Polite to you, but not exactly seeking your friendship. He is at his most open with Steve, and sometimes Sam, if they aren’t bickering. He also started opening up with Thor, which is a big compliment to the Asgardian god given how little time he spends at the compound, and seems to enjoy Scott’s company. He also bonded with Wanda after she helped him with his nightmares.
You wish you could figure out how to get into that circle, but the secret eludes you. It doesn’t help that your job as a team assistant, often helping with tasks like getting them to interviews and public appearances, pretty much means your professional interaction with him is to lead him into situations he has no interest in being part of. The man does not like talking to reporters or the public. At all.
You have a hopeless crush on the man, but you aren’t sure if he does much more than tolerate your presence.
***
Later in the day, after Sam’s interview, you walk across the compound yard. Bucky is leaning against a wall talking with a SHIELD staff member. She’s clearly flirting, not exactly a new sight. Bucky gets hit on a lot. When he first came here, he was oblivious to it. Then unnerved by it. Now he usually just calmly extracts himself from the situation. But this time you see him smile back, very uncharacteristically. The woman flicks her shoulder-length blond hair over her shoulder and pats his right arm. He shifts nervously, but then smiles again. Your stomach turns and as his eyes lift to meet yours, you look back down at the ground and speed your steps. Then, in a false show of confidence, you lift your eyes to look straight ahead and stride across the yard like you have somewhere important to be.
***
Rather than go back to your suite, you knock on Darcy’s door. She landed a job as a research assistant several months ago, on Jane’s recommendation. Bruce is constantly perplexed by her.
“Giiiiirrrrrrlllll,” she greets you, waving a bottle of wine.
“It’s kinda early.”
“It’s five o’clock somewhere. No wait! Look at the clock. It’s almost five o’clock here. Let’s do this. Long day. I dropped my phone in the toilet again and I lost all my music until I get my new Stark phone.”
She pours you a glass and you sit on her couch while she lounges sideways on a chair.
“I saw your man come in and get some bloodwork done,” she smirks at you.
“He’s not my man.”
“He took his shirt off and everything. Jesus Christ, woman. I don’t even know what else to say.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“What are you so cranky about? No jokes about licking Nutella off his abs?”
“That’s your department. Besides, I just saw him flirting with a SHIELD agent.”
“Oh, boo. How boring. Your babies will be so much cuter.”
“You don’t even know what she looks like. And no thanks on the baby talk.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m a supportive friend. Now let’s go see what Sammy is up to.”
Darcy leapt up, glass in one hand, bottle in the other, and bounced down the hall. You followed, taking cautious sips on the way.
“Saaaaaaaam!” Darcy yelped at the sight of him filling a glass of orange juice.
“Darcy, damn. It’s not even five- Nope, wait! It’s 5:02. Fill her up,” he says, sticking the juice back in the fridge and pulling out his own wine glass. The three of you gather around the island, joined moments later by Natasha, who walks straight to the cabinet and gets her own glass. Then she stoops down and pulls another bottle out of her personal cupboard.
“Looks, like we’re gonna need this,” she says, setting both items on the counter.
“I have found my people,” Darcy snorts.
Steve walks through the doorway and raises an eyebrow. “Happy hour?”
“C’mon, Cap. Pull up a glass,” Darcy grins.
Steve takes a seat but doesn’t bother with a glass. He doesn’t see the point in drinking alcohol anymore unless it’s an occasional Asgardian brew.
One more person enters the room and everyone goes silent. Sam whistles. Bucky is clearly startled by his reception.
You take him in in his black jeans and blue button up shirt. His hair is brushed back neatly behind his ears and he is clean shaven, a rare occurrence. It has barely been been an hour since you saw him dressed casually outside. Your heart feels like it’s about to burst out of your chest at how pretty he looks.
“And where are YOU off to?” Sam demands.
“Nowhere. Just getting some dinner.”
“Wiiiittthhhh?”
“None of your damn business,” Bucky says, rolling his eyes.
Steve grins and nods approvingly.
“Do you have a date, Bucky?” Darcy demands, clearly feeling the effects of the wine.
Bucky looks startled again, given he and Darcy don’t know each other well at all. Your hands tighten around your glass.
“I have to go,” he mutters, and continues on his way to the elevator.
When the doors slide closed behind him, Darcy turns to Steve.
“Spill.”
Steve shrugs. “He’s going to dinner with someone in the SHIELD office. He didn’t tell me much other than that. But guys, don’t give him a hard time. He’s moving on with his life. Dating is part of that. Don’t make it awkward for him.”
Darcy catches your eyes and looks sympathetic. You bite your bottom lip and realize Natasha is giving you the same look. Of course, you should have realized she’d be onto you. You chug the rest of your drink.