everything has changed

chapter six

Unfortunately you didn't see Bucky for a few weeks after that night. Whenever you'd hang out with Steve, you secretly hoped he would show up. You asked Steve about it, but he would try to dodge the question or change the subject. Was the comment about his date too far? It seemed so small compared to other things you've said to each other, so why did it seem like he was avoiding you? It was taking up your thoughts more than you'd care to admit.

Almost three weeks had past before you saw him again. You and Steve were cooking dinner in his apartment when he walked in. "I thought you said she wasn't here," he said to Steve. "I lied." So he had been avoiding you. "Call me when she actually isn't here." You tried to hide the hurt you were feeling. Just as you worried about, he really did hate you. Finally figuring your feelings out for him had all been a waste.

"Buck, c'mon. I want to have a nice meal with my friends, please?" "Fine, but I'm only staying for you." Any other time you would make a sarcastic comment, but it didn't feel worth it anymore. The last one had backfired anyways, you didn't want to make it worse. He was clearly still upset about it. "Can you hand me the salt?" You asked Steve. He looked through his cabinets but couldn't find any.

"I'll run and grab some. Don't kill each other while I'm gone." "No promises," Bucky said while glaring at you. It was silent while you kept cooking. Bucky was busy scrolling on his phone, probably on Tinder or something. Another chance to tell him everything like you swore you would, but the moment felt so wrong. "You know you can help me over here." He didn't look up from his phone, "I'm alright."

You put down the spoon you were using to stir and looked at him. "What's your problem?" He laughed, "Like you don't already know." "If it's about what I said about your date, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound like that." He didn't say anything, he really wasn't making it easy. "I said I'm sorry, the least you can do is acknowledge it." "I don't have to do anything." You weren't going to give up that easily.

"Can you at least tell me why you've been avoiding me?" You asked. "Why do you care if I am? I thought it would make you happy. Clearly you hate being around me, so I was giving what you want. You should be thanking me." He was so wrong it made you laugh. "If you really think that's what I want, you're an idiot." Bucky was confused. "I'm not an idiot. I know you probably feel like one for helping SHIELD find me. You have to regret it, right?"

What was he even saying? How could he possibly think you regretted that? Even if you did actually hate him, you would never want him to suffer like he had. No one deserved that, and it made you sick to think about what he went through. "How could you possibly think that? Of course I don't." "Only because you were helping Steve too." You couldn't believe what he was saying. Did he really think you hated him that much?

You just stared at him while you tried to find the right words to say so he'd understand how wrong he was. "Bucky, you can't possibly think I hate you that much." "Why would I think otherwise? We fight every time we're together, we couldn't even go two hours at dinner without making sarcastic comments." You were tired of fighting with him, how did he not see that Steve was right?

But if fighting was the only way for him to see it, you didn't have a choice. "Maybe Steve's right. You act like it's your personal hell being around me, but here you are. You don't leave when I'm around, and you could've left me alone at dinner and you didn't. You went out of your way to walk me home. Not only that, you made the effort to come here after your date to brag about it. Why would you do all of that?"

"Because I love you!"

And there it was, the words you didn't even realize you've been wanting to hear. You were suddenly aware of how close you were standing, suddenly aware of how easy it would be to kiss him. Bucky had become aware as well and his lips were suddenly on yours before he could talk himself out of it. Both of his hands were cupping your face while yours rested on his waist. The kiss was intense, both of you releasing the built-up tension and frustration into it.

His hands started roaming all over your body like he couldn't get enough of touching you. It gave you goosebumps how his touches were gentle yet the kiss was far from it. You pulled away first to catch your breath and Bucky was smiling at you, a rare sight, but a beautiful one. "I love you too," you smiled. "I never hated you, not once. I just thought it'd be easier to pretend to, the thought of trying to make a new friend scared me. And then I started falling for you, and that scared me even more. I wanted to tell you, but I thought you didn't like me."

You laughed, "I never hated you either. We both really are oblivious, huh?" He laughed along with you. "And for the record, I never went on a date with that waitress." "And I never went on a date with Sam." Turns out they both had been right about everything. Steve would have a field day once he finds out, he'll probably never shut up about it. "So we both were being assholes by making the other jealous," Bucky teased. "Well, it worked. I think we owe Steve a thanks."

Right on cue, as usual, Steve walked in. "A thanks for what?" You and Bucky noticed he came back empty handed. "Wait, I thought you left to get salt," Bucky pointed out. "I had some the whole time. I just needed an excuse to leave so you two would figure your shit out. I'm assuming it worked," he gestured to how close you two were standing, and the fact that Bucky was holding your hand.

"It did, so thank you." Steve didn't even try to hide his excitement. "Finally! Took you two long enough. I knew I was right." "No need to be all smug about it," Bucky mumbled. "We're never going to hear the end of this, are we?" You groaned. Steve came and threw his arms around the both of you. "Nope. My two best friends happy and in love, all thanks to me." Bucky rolled his eyes and you playfully nudged Steve. You and Bucky were both so happy to finally stop pretending and start your relationship together.

A/N: thank you all for the love and support on this story! i know it was short, especially for enemies to lovers, but i ran out of ideas quickly and realized i'm not the best at writing for this trope lol. i'm planning a fake dating fic (including the 'one bed' trope) but am torn if it should be steve x reader or bucky x reader. lmk which you'd prefer, and be sure to come back and check that one out! the first chapter will be up in the next week/week and a half. thank you guys again!

also, follow my tumblr if you want! @/barnesdogtags. i've been posting some one shots over there.