Chapter Text
Brooklyn — October 1939
This was the fifth goddamn time this week.
The short, lanky man— or rather boy— came and returned the couple of books he’d taken on physical fitness again. You were pretty sure that this kid was going to run out of reading material within... days.
You felt rather sad for him, not intentionally studying the person, but unable to help yourself. Clearly, he was looking to get physically bigger, but his ill-fitting clothes and the seemingly permanent pout on his face signaled to you that he was coming up unsuccessful.
You watched his cheeks color, as he walked around the library, lost. The library you worked at had done some remodeling, and as a result, some shelves (among other items) had been moved. He looked around, clearly trying to find a librarian to help him. You normally would look back down and would pray that the person would find someone else, but he was harmless. He looked like a lost puppy— what with his neatly combed blond hair, glossy blue eyes, and come on; you weren’t that cruel.
Besides, the library was about to close, and you were the only librarian left.
You offered a smile, hoping he’d approach you as he looked in your direction. He immediately looked behind him, as if somebody smiling at him wasn’t a natural occurrence. You saw him gulp nervously as he walked over to your waiting figure.
“Hello, I uhm, I was… hoping you could help me find some books on uh…” He trailed off, clearly embarrassed by his request.
“Physical fitness?” You finished, widening your smile to appear more friendly. He seemed to relax somewhat as he nodded. You gestured for him to follow you, and he did so without question, going to the new location of his desired books. You watched him as he surveyed the books, and chose them before checking them out, slightly squirming under your gaze. Every time he looked up to see if you were still surveying him, which you were, he instantly looked back down.
A little while later, as the clock above your head struck 8 o’clock, you grabbed your things, ready to lock up the library, when the blond man cleared his throat.
“Th-Thank you, for the help. With the books.”
“No problem,” You answered genuinely, turning back to your things.
“How did you know what I was looking for?” He asked, his voice finally gaining some traction, yet still filled with curiosity.
“You’ve come into the library five times in the last week looking for the same thing.” You said, careful not to laugh, but rather smile. His cheeks reddened further, and good god, he was just about the most endearing thing you had ever seen. “I had a pretty good idea about what you needed.”
“Oh. Well, thank you again…” He trailed off, not aware of your name.
You finished the sentence for him with your name, prompting a shy smile from him.
“Steve. Steve Rogers.”
Brooklyn — March 1941
You smiled as Steve gave you a quick hug of greeting, his head slipping into the crook of your neck. You couldn’t help yourself from beaming as you watched Steve walk away to asses the new pile of books that came had arrived earlier in the week. You thought about how much more comfortable he was around you now than he was when you had first met him.
18 months of friendship did that to a person.
“Just these,” Steve said, when he was done, handing you the two books he’d chosen not even 10 minutes later. You raised an eyebrow at him as you checked them out. Steve usually took forever to pick his books.
“Whatever happened to ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover,’ huh?” You asked, teasingly bringing up what Steve liked to preach whenever you complained he was taking too long, as you handed Steve the books back. He colored slightly.
“I don’t have the time to take a good look at ‘em today; Bucky’s dragging me out onto another double date.” He said, already knowing you’re going to roll your eyes in disapproval. “I know what you’re gonna say, Y/N. But, he’s my pal.” Steve explained.
“If he was really your pal, then he wouldn’t be dragging you out for these sorry excuses for double dates.” You piped up, catching the disapproving look in his eye.
“It’s fine, Y/N. Truly.”
“It’s not, Steve. You know I just wanna see you happy—”
“I do. And I love you for it. But, Bucky’s waiting for me down in the lot. I should go.” Steve said. You nodded, lips tightly pressed together.
“Chin up, Y/N.” He said, a rare smile gracing his face.
“Stevie! What’s taking so long?” A booming voice asked from the entryway of the library. Despite never having met him before, you didn’t have to turn to know who it was. The only person the voice could have belonged to was James Buchanan Barnes.
Bucky, You thought bitterly, as you turned to face him.
The first thing you noticed about him was that he looked nothing like Steve. At a towering height of six feet, Bucky Barnes was a large man, accompanied by two beautiful women on either arm. His dark hair was styled back with some sort of pomade, and the glint in his starking blue stare was nothing short of dangerous. His clothes fit him terribly well, and when he cocked his head at the sight of Steve talking to you, you could see the sharp cut of his jaw.
He studied you with newfound interest, and you fidgeted under his heated gaze. He whispered into the ears of the ladies on his arms, who giggled in response as they scattered to different corners of the library.
“Speak of the devil and he shall appear,” You muttered spitefully to yourself, earning a look from Steve that told you to behave. Bucky approached you and Steve, swagger in his step, and something of a smirk on his face.
“Is this the elusive Y/N Y/LN?” He asked, his smirk widening into a grin. Steve nodded, finally introducing you two. Bucky outstretched his hand, and you met it with your own, because dammit, you were nothing if not polite. He brought your hand up to his lips, and kissed your knuckles softly in greeting.
“So, you’re the woman responsible for the new pep in Steve’s step?” He asked, earning a shove from Steve. You raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
“Let’s go, Buck. You don’t wanna keep the ladies waiting, now do you?” Steve asked quickly, hoping to direct his old friend’s attention away from his newer one. He wanted to keep you and Bucky as far apart as possible.
You was the most fragrant flower in the garden, if not the brightest or largest.
And, Bucky was a friggin’ bulldozer.
Ever since Bucky had learned of Steve and Y/N’s friendship, he’d been making non-stop cracks at Steve to ask her out, despite Steve’s never ending claims of their platonicity. Bucky would always roll his eyes, and say something along the lines of “just you wait.”
Needless to say, whenever Bucky said something cryptic, it worried Steve.
To Steve, your job occupation gave a good glimpse into your personality, as Steve had learned in the span of your friendship. You were usually quiet, reserved, and an introvert in almost every aspect of the word. But, when you were around your close friends, (such as Steve) you were one of the best people he’d ever had the pleasure of meeting. Witty and outspoken, you were a surprising breath of fresh air, but if you were to be placed at one of Bucky’s parties, you’d be reduced to utter silence.
Bucky on the other hand, was an utter extrovert. His infectious smile could pull simultaneous grins from any crowd, and was always the life of the party. Women flocked to him, and men strove to be him. The only reason Steve was his best pal was because they’d grown up together, but Steve would have it no other way.
Till’ the end of the line, Steve thought with a smile, the quote Bucky always liked to tell him popping up in his head.
Whereas Bucky was exactly the friend Steve needed, one step into your life, and he’d absolutely ruin you. Bucky had always harbored a cruel streak, and when it reared it’s head, he was ruthless.
Steve could withstand it. After all, everybody had a dark side, and Bucky withstood Steve’s in the same way. Their friendship was, in every way, unbreakable. But, he knew Bucky, and he knew you. Steve just wanted to minimize the casualties.
“Steve,” Bucky called, drawing him out of his thoughts. “Tell me right away why you haven’t invited the gorgeous Y/N here to go see tonight’s movie with us?” He asked, lips curling into a charming grin that could bail him out of jail, and raising an eyebrow pointedly at Steve. Steve huffed, slightly annoyed at the color crawling up the apples of your cheeks.
Bucky loved seeing people flustered because of him. He practically got off on it.
What Bucky didn’t understand was that it was the blush of discomfort, rather than flattery.
“Because she has two more hours before she can close up the library, and there are already two gorgeous ladies you’ve brought for the movie. Can we go now?” He asked, crossing his arms, hoping to come off as assertive. Bucky gaped at Steve, before turning to you to see your input.
But all you did was stare expectantly at Bucky, crossing your arms in agreement with Steve.
“I always say the more the merrier,” Bucky said, with a wicked grin. You couldn’t help a scoff from leaving your mouth. “But, I can take a hint.” He finally let up, whistling loudly to gather the attention of the ladies he’d be entertaining for the night, earning a stern look from you. It was a library for Christ’s sake.
And besides… how demeaning is that?! They weren't dogs.
The ladies didn’t seem to mind though, returning to Bucky’s side with a flirtatious grin. Steve accompanied them from a step behind, and Bucky turned to walk away. “I’ll see you around, Y/N.”
“Not if I can help it,” You found yourself muttering, rearranging the things on your desk absentmindedly to hopefully calm yourself.
“What was that?” Bucky asked, turning back around, absolutely giddy at the fact that he’d gotten something of a rise out of you. You widened your eyes. You didn’t think he’d heard you, but you composed yourself all the same.
“I just… you don’t come to library often, James.” You sneered, watching him mouth ‘ouch’ playfully at your use of his first name. “That’s all.”
“I don’t see you at my parties either,” He countered.
“And, that’s the way it’s going to stay. Goodbye now.” You replied through gritted teeth, seeing Bucky laugh gleefully in response. He saluted to you like a soldier, the side of two fingers pressed against his forehead as a goodbye.
Steve smiled apologetically as he followed his friend out.
You sighed and wished you'd never met James Buchanan Barnes.