til forever falls apart (BWWM)

|19|

|Bucky|

"James Buchanan Barnes," I turned to see my Doll, storming over to me. I cocked my head to the side. "You only call me that when you're angry," I mumbled as she stood in front of me, toe to toe. "What did I do now?"

Y/N scrunched her face up, frowning at me. "Can you tell me why my mother asked me about us? Asking when we started courting each other?" I smiled down at her. I licked my lips, looking around. "Well, I asked you a couple of nights ago. When I took you dancing, and you said yeah."

Y/N picked her nose, shaking her head, "I only said so that you would leave me alone." She paused, glancing back at me. "Do you honestly think we could be together?" Well, that stings.

"James, people like us can't be together." I took her hand in mine, but she took it away quickly, glancing around even though the park was empty. "Where is all this coming from, Doll? I don't see why this is a problem."

"Of course, you don't. You're not the one getting dirty looks or hearing people whisper and point at you." She stepped back after I started to comfort her.

She was really upset. Y/N didn't like to raise her voice or confront anyone. She only did it when she truly was bothered. So, I took a moment, trying to understand how she was feeling, but I couldn't wrap my head around it.

"Who cares what they're talking about? You and I care about each other, and that's what matters, right?"

"I care, James. I don't want to be in this relationship if I have to spend the rest of my life hiding in alleyways, or waiting until we're behind closed doors to kiss you." She closed her eyes tightly, "I don't want this."

I shook my head at her, blinking and sitting back down on the chair, "Don't be so dramatic." Shit, that came out wrong.

Y/N wiped her face. I didn't even notice she was crying, an emotion I rarely saw in her.

"Why did I think you would be different?" She inhaled sharply. "White and blacks shouldn't mix," She mocked in a nasal voice, "You should stick with your own kind. He doesn't really like you. Who could like someone of your kind?" Y/N continued with tears swelling in her eyes.

She pointed a finger at me. "Your friends respect you enough not to say it in front of you, but I hear every word they say about me, James, so don't tell me I'm being dramatic."

Before I could stand, she pushed me back down in the chair, standing over me, "We're done. So, you can go find you a girl with long blonde hair, and I can get the hell out of Brooklyn and move on in life." She stepped away and walked to the door. I called after her, "Y/N, wait!"

She waited for a second while I tried to gain all the strength I had to tell her something I've waited years to say. It was always the wrong moment when it came to her, and I wanted it to be special, but this was my only chance to make her stay.

"I love you." I stared into her eyes. For a moment, they soften, swelling again with tears. Yet, she frowns when her eyes meant mine. She squinted at me, "Don't be so dramatic."

_______________

"Bucky, did you hear what I said?" Steve asked, tapping my shoulder. I looked at him confused. He raised an eyebrow before placing a hand on my shoulder. I shook my head after a moment, trying to understand my surroundings.

When did we get to the city? I don't know what triggered this memory. It just came up suddenly when we were walking to the cars. 

"What did you say," I asked, clearing my throat. "I asked if it was ok if we left early. Ross called a meeting for Tuesday." I sighed, "I wanted to stay longer. Show Y/N around."

Steve nodded and looked at me, "You two seem to be getting along well. Is it how it was back then?" I exhaled and hesitated before answering, "It's very different I think. She's not the same Y/N I left behind for the war." I looked down. "At least, the Y/N I do remember."

"I think that's something we all have to accept. You and I are too different people compare to who we were back then." I kissed my teeth, "Excuse me. The only thing different about you, Captain Rogers, is that you grew fake muscles."

"Hey, I had muscle. I think." I shook my head, "Steve, the only thing you had was black eyes and asthma. I used to think you were allergic to muscles." Steve groaned and chuckled to himself, "Buck, I had them. They were just invisible to the naked eye." 

I laughed and skipped ahead, walking to one of the carts. I picked up two plums and some strawberries, tossing them into a bag. I handed a couple of dollars to the kid running the cart. I threw a plum Steve's way and bite into mine. Wakanda has the best fruits and food I've ever tasted. If I was to ever stop fighting, I would love to settle down here.

"Bucky, returning isn't what I wanted to talk to you about," Steve confessed while sitting down at a table. "General Ross wants to arrest Y/N on behalf of the country. Fury told me Ross got word of something Y/N did in her past that was a being deal. Did she say anything to you about it?"

"No," I cleared my throat, "Sam was telling me that she said she stole some files from Sharon. Didn't say what kind." Steve nodded, "Whatever she did, Fury didn't want to tell me about it, saying it was classified information."

"Can Ross arrest her? I mean, we don't know what he's accusing her of."

Steve shook his head, and then he looked at me. I shook my head and sighed, looking that look from anywhere. He said, "Can you get her to confess that why we can protect her if it is something bad?" I exhaled and rolled my eyes back, "I don't think she trusts me enough for her to tell me about her crimes."

"Can you at least try, Buck?" After a moment, I sighed again and nodded. "Thanks. You're my best friend for a reason. Til the end of the line, pal?"

I frowned at him, jokingly, "I'm starting to wish that line was shorter." Steve laughed and threw an arm around my shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm never leaving you."