Imagines. Reader Insert

Steve/Bucky: Should've said no

I started lagging behind Steve in our work out. I knew joining the Avengers would be hard work, but Captain America himself worked me harder than anyone else I trained with.

"Come on, Sweetheart. Gotta work off that slice of cake from dinner last night." He barked at me as he reversed his movement to watch me. "No one told you to down three glasses of champagne."

" We were celebrating! It was your birthday." I grounded out as I pushed myself again. I felt it in my gut, I was going to upchuck from exertion. " You had three plates of pasta."

"You're making excuses again, you'll never fit in a 40s style wedding dress with that attitude." He had moved on to the next part of the workout but suddenly I had frozen. "A 40s wedding dress?" I huffed out , righting my body to look at him. "Well yeah, I don't want a bride who can't get down an aisle without panting. I want you to look healthy, Honey." My brain couldn't process any of the information it was receiving past the word Bride. " Are you proposing? " He sighed and paused his workout to look at me, " It's beneficial for us as Avengers and we've been going on dates for this long... Might as well right? " My heart broke at the phrasing but he wasn't wrong. So, against my better judgement and common sense, I said," Sure, yeah, why not? I love you, Cap. " " Perfect, sound great, sweetie. "

" Bucky, Has Steve mentioned that he proposed? " I muttered to my best friend. " He did? Did he have a ring picked out? " I shook my head, " Not yet, we'll get a pair though. " " Did he do it at his birthday dinner at least or take you somewhere nice? " I shook my head again as I picked at the pillow I was holding to my large tummy. Something I always did around the team, even if Bucky was my first friend here. " Darlin', did he finally tell you he loves you? " I went to shake my head and Bucky scoffed.

" You both are gonna regret this. I hate to be the one between you two. I shouldn't have introduced you. " He growled with guilt bubbling in his heart, along with a sharp emptiness. I kept my eyes on the floor, "I'm not gonna do any better than Steve except maybe you or Thor... Or Tony. " Bucky laughed out loud, " If Tony is better than Steve ain't doin' too swell on your list. " I broke into a small smile before chuckling, " You know what I mean, I love Steve... "
" But he's Fatphobic, He's elitist, He's still in love with thin, forties idealistic, dead Peggy Carter... " I couldn't deny any of the points Bucky made. I knew Steve was trying to make me into what he thought Peggy was. Hell, I even learned how to victory roll my hair, it's not a small feat. Bucky hugged me close careful not to make skin contact. " You gotta tell him no." I shook my head, " I can't do it, Buck. It'd break my heart. This is what I want." I stood up carefully, making my way to my private quarters without showing emotion. That changed the minute I closed my door behind me and fell into bed.Soft gentle tears turned into ugly sobs when I hear a weird metal crack sound from the bed. I know I should've said no, but who would say yes to me otherwise?

Bucky sucked in a deep breath, "You're breakin' MY heart, doll." He sat back against the couch, running his cool metal hand through his hair and down his face. How could Steve have changed so much since that glimpse of Peggy? At first he thought introducing the two would be amazing but you went on dates with Steve. He'd resigned himself to accepting his best friends being happy together.

Then, Somehow, HYDRA had Peggy trap here in this time. When she went back to her time, Steve...changed for the worse. He ridiculed you, insult you, tried to change you constantly both in public and in private. He snapped at anyone who call him out on it,and his behavior. He jeopardized missions the minute Hydra used Peggy's name. He was out of control. And Bucky was afraid, not of HYDRA or Steve, but what this would do to the person he loved. You should've said no.