Since the Beginning // The Winter Solider //

Chapter 4

Authors note: Hey everyone! It's been a couple of days but I'm back with another chapter! My summer semester for university just started so I'm getting back into the pace of studying (again). 

Apologies for any grammar mistakes! 

As always, enjoy, vote and comment throughout! 

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1943 - Brooklyn, New York. Anna's apartment

Bucky's laugh filled the empty space of Anna's apartment. The ebony haired girl smiled and watched Bucky clutch his stomach in laughter. She hadn't invited a guest over in awhile, especially not a handsome one. While the war brought upon unity of allied forces, for Anna and many others, it brought loneliness. Anna's mind drifted off...

It wasn't like Anna didn't have anyone, she had Elizabeth who has been by her side since childhood. But Elizabeth's mother was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago and that meant Elizabeth spent more time with her mother than with Anna. Anna understood however, family meant everything.

"Okay so hold on, what happened after?" Bucky pulled Anna out of her thoughts and he leaned forward in excitement.

"Well, Elizabeth walked right by and accidentally, poured boiling coffee on the guy." Anna made a heavy emphasis on the word 'accidentally' and Bucky's jaw dropped. Anna told Bucky the story of when a man had groped her in the middle of the coffee shop. She had turned around and instantly socked the man in the face. Bucky laughed at Anna's reaction and cheered for her since she stood up for herself.

"That is absolutely amazing." Bucky leaned further back against the wooden chair and chucked to himself. "Remind me to never get on your bad side." he flashed Anna a flirty smile. Anna's eyes widened and she waved her hands in front of her in embarrassment.

"N-No, I don't think you'd ever see my bad side." Anna played the seams of her sweater, her eyes focused on anywhere other than Bucky's eyes. "You're too nice to see that side..." Both her hands gripped her mug tightly as she waited for Bucky's response. A part of her wanted Bucky to continue to flirt with her but the other side of her wanted to stop. She was afraid to open up to him, Anna always struggled to open up to others.

However, Anna found herself opening up to Bucky more than she expected. Bucky had this charm to him, his charisma was off the charts. It was easy to just let go and...talk.

Just as Bucky opened his mouth to speak, him and Anna heard the noise of keys rattling against each other. They both turned to the door. The front door light outside Anna's apartment showed a silhouette of a small and lanky person.

"That's Steve." Bucky turned to Anna and stood up.

Anna learned that the person who lived next door was Bucky's childhood best friend, Steve who recently lost his mother to tuberculosis. Bucky decided to spend more time with Steve to fill the gap of his missing family member.

As Anna listened to Bucky talk about Steve and all their childhood stories together, she could tell that they were meant to be brothers. Bucky had the utmost respect for Steve, as his small framed best friend constantly stood up against bullies. Anna had never really spoken to Steve at all, but after she heard everything Bucky had to say about him, she made it a goal to at least be a friendly neighbour.

Bucky walked over to the front door and whipped it opened.

"Hey Steve." Bucky leaned against the door frame, he had the "I-know-what-you-did" face on.

"Buck," Steve sounded a little surprised, "What are you doing in my...neighbours apartment?" the blonde man leaned forward and peered into Anna's apartment. Anna, who sat there awkwardly in her own home, gave a small wave. In return, Steve gave an awkward smile.

"Well punk," Bucky pushed himself up right and slung his arm over Steve's shoulder, "I was looking for you and turns out, you weren't home. I wonder where you went." Steve looked up at Bucky and sighed, "You know where I went." the blonde shrugged Bucky's arm off his shoulders and headed to his apartment door.

"Wanna talk about it?" Bucky asked, he sounded a little concerned. Anna noticed his pinched eyebrows and stiff body language. The ebony haired girl was unable to hear what Steve replied with but she caught on a couple of words "...movie...hotdogs...". It was probably a good reply since Anna saw Bucky smiled.

"Alright give me one second." Bucky spun himself to face Anna at the doorway, she smiled at him. Anna knew it was time for Bucky to go and she wasn't sad or anything, she really enjoyed the time she spent with him. Anna stood up from her seat and walked over to Bucky.

"Well, it's time for me to go." Bucky gave Anna a small smile. Deep down inside, he didn't really want to leave. He wanted to stay but Steve needed someone to be there for him.

"Don't worry, I understand. Steve...looks a bit sad." Anna glanced over at her neighbours door and frowned. After everything Bucky told her, she thought maybe it would be a good idea to get to know Steve as well. He sounded like someone she'd love to be friends with.

"Yeah well, he probably got rejected from the army again." Bucky made a 'what can you do' gesture with his hand and Anna 'hmed' in response. She felt bad for Steve, he just wanted to serve his country like everybody else.

"Listen Anna," the ebony haired girl looked up at Bucky "It was really nice tonight." The soldier's comment made Anna blush. She wanted to say the same to him but she was too shy.

"I was wondering if we could do this again sometime? But maybe over dinner?" Bucky asked and Anna's eyes widened at his question. Bucky's hands were in his pants pocket and they were sweating. He wasn't the only one that was nervous. Anna's heart hammered in her chest and her mind raced with thoughts. Dinner? With this handsome fellow? She was ecstatic.

"Sorry, did you say you want to go out for dinner? With me?" Anna heard it the first time, but she just wanted to confirm. Maybe her mind was playing tricks on her.

"Yes. You and me, dinner. Saturday night? 7pm? I'll come pick you up." Bucky dropped the date and time like he had been thinking about it the whole night. He was really nervous. He'd never been nervous to ask a girl out but Anna made him nervous, in a good way.

Anna smiled brightly at Bucky "Yes, that sounds lovely Bucky." her response made Bucky smile from ear to ear. A wave of relief crashed over him and he wasn't rejected by Anna.

Anna felt goosebumps riddle her body after she witnessed Bucky's handsome smile.

"Hey Buck, you coming?" Steve popped his head out his front door and looked up and down at Anna. He smiled at her and she smiled back.

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming." Bucky waved a hand at him and he turned to look at Anna. He gently placed his hand behind her head and pulled her close. Bucky bent down just slightly and gave a small kiss on top of Anna's forehead.

He backed away and Anna moved her hand up to her forehead to touch the spot where Bucky's lips were. She blushed profusely at his intimate action.

"Goodnight Anna."

"Goodnight Bucky." 

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Authors note: YEAAAHHHHHHHHHHH GET THAT BOOTY ANNA. But for real, FINALLY after multiple encounters, Bucky is able to ask Anna out on a date. I'm very excited to write about how the dinner goes and I hope you're excited for it too! 

As you can tell, I've mentioned hotdogs about twice now between Bucky and Steve. I got the idea from Civil War when Bucky and Steve had a heartfelt conversation in the QuinJet before they got off to find Zemo. 

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! 

As always, stay safe. 

word count: 1209

- For Crying Out Loud.