Save Us First (Bucky)

12

"Shake it up, shake up the happiness, come on y'all, it's christmas tiime!"

Ivy laughed and Bucky had to smile when he woke up and saw her dancing around the room.
"It's snowing outside! Look, Buck, it's snowing!"
She grabbed his hand and tried to pull him out of bed.
He sighed and then stood up, putting an arm around her and looked outside the window.
"Yeah. It's snowing. And?"
"I love snow!"
He chuckled.
"The fire girl loves snow?"
"Yeah. I don't know, I always did."
"You wanna go on the roof? Build a snowman or something?", he asked with a smile and she gave him a kiss.
"Yesss."
"Alright, then get your clothes, we'll meet in five minutes up there, okay?"
"Deal."

"Fucking hell, it's way colder than I thought", Ivy said annoyed, sniffed and helped Bucky form the bottom of the snowman.
"Guess we should hurry then, huh?", he said grinning.
She rolled her eyes and made a tiny flame with her hand, warming her for a second.
He shook his head, smiling and she giggled.
"Look at us, being all christmassy and cute."
"Yeah, I'm pretty adorable", he said and grinned.
She threw a little bit of snow at him, which made him laugh and he threw some back.
"Hey!"
"You started it!"
"....No, not true..", she said giggling and he pulled her into his arms.

"Maybe I need to cool you down a little", he said and pretended to push her down into the snow.
She squeaked and clung to him, giggling.
He held her around an inch from the ground and grinned.
"You wanna get up?"
"Yeah!"
"Ask nicely."
"Please, James, can I please get up?"
"Alright fine."
He lifted her up again and she stumbled into his arms.
For a second, they both looked into each others eyes and then she said slowly:
"I - I think...do you.."
"You think too much", he mumbled and laid his lips on hers.

She held his face in her hands, his hands on her waist and in that moment she felt butterflies in her stomach, stronger than she'd ever felt anything ever before.
She was so fucking hopelessly in love with that 106 year old super soldier whose lips tasted so good, whose eyes made her feel like home, whose smile made her so happy.
And he kissed her, knowing that he was in love with her too.
The girl on fire. Who was always ready to be there for him, who didn't give a fuck about his past, his arm or the chaos in his head.

"I know what you wanted to say though", he murmured and she blushed.
"Y-You do?"
"Yeah. Don't worry. Me too."
Her face lit up.
"Really?"
He had to smile and nodded.
"Yeah. I feel it too."
__

"No for real though, that's bullshit!"
"Why is it bullshit that I don't want to see my family?", Ivy chuckled and Bucky sighed.
"Well- because they're family!"
"Eh. Doesn't mean we get along."
"What happened?"
Ivy exhaled slowly.

"Well...They thought I was an abomination, a mutant, a...punishment from god or some shit. When they found out about the fire thing. I thought I was pretty lit though. So I set their house on fire."
"Oh my - what? You set their house on fire?!", Bucky said surprised and she nodded slowly.
"Yeah..."
"I've never been more proud of you", he suddenly said, pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss.

She stared at him in disbelief.
"You're what?", she asked laughing.
"I'm proud of you! You're not a fucking abomination! You're amazing! You're gorgeous and kind and smart and talented and lovely and...They didn't deserve you. You didn't deserve that."
She had to smile and he saw a tear running over her cheek.
"Thanks Bucky", she said softly and wrapped his arms around her.
"Don't cry, doll. It's not worth it. You don't need them, you've got me.
I will be your family if you want, okay?
And Steve and Tony and Nat and Bruce and Loki and Thor and Clint. And Sam and Peter and Scott, too. We'll all be your family."
She had to smile again and wiped her tears away.
"And I love you all so much."
"Yeah but you love me a little more than the others right?", he murmured and she had to laugh.
"If I tell you you might get too cocky. "
"That's mean."
"You like it."

He let go of her.
"Do you wanna watch that movie you love so much? The one with the weed dealer? What's it called again?"
"The Gentlemen", she said and sniffed.
"Yeah, that'd be nice. Thank you."
"Of course doll."
They sat down on the couch and she snuggled up against him, while he played with her hair.
"I feel like the others shouldn't come home again. Not now. Maybe in a few days", he said chuckling and she smiled at him.
"Yeah, I wish we could have some more time alone."
"Well, life sucks hm."
"You're so optimistic, I love it", she said sarcastically and he grinned.

When Steve and Nat came back, they found them cuddling on the couch, Ivy drawing on Bucky's arm with a sharpie while he watched her with a pretty satisfied looking smile.
"Whoah. Hope we're not interrupting something", Nat said.
Ivy didn't even look up.
"You're not. No one can destroy this for us."
Bucky chuckled and shrugged.
"Guess not", he said and Steve shook his head with a smile.
"I knew it. Since when are you guys actually a thing?"
"Oh, in our heads? A couple weeks. Actually? Yesterday evening."
"You don't mind us knowing?", Nat smiled and Ivy shook her head.
"Why would we? It's not your business."
Now she looked up.
"Uhm..no offense."
"I understand, don't worry. I'll go unpack, see you guys in a bit", Natasha said with a wink and left the room.

Steve sat down across Bucky and Ivy.
"So...is it...serious?"
Bucky sighed.
"Steve, she just said it's really new. Give us some time to figure it out, okay?"
"Yeah, alright. Sorry. What are you drawing, Ivy?"
She grabbed Bucky's arm and showed it to Steve.
"That's...pretty fucking funny."

She was drawing a sketch of Loki dangling from Hulk's fist.

"Languaage", Bucky said grinning and Steve rolled his eyes.
"It is though, right. I think Loki is gonna love it", Ivy said with a satisfied grin.
"Oh definitely", Bucky grinned.
"I should never wash my arm again and every time he annoys me, I'll show him."
He got up and grabbed Ivy's hand.
"Should get it tattooed", she proposed, still grinning and he put an arm around her shoulder.
"See you, Steve", she said and as they were walking away she turned around one last time:
"And Merry Christmas! Keep this a secret."