Save Us First (Bucky)

9

Ivy entered Bucky's room and immediately had to smile.
A big picture of him and Steve hung on the wall, both smiling into the camera.
It was black and white, obviously from the 40s.
"Oh my god, that's amazing", she said smiling.
Bucky chuckled and then grabbed a small present, wrapped in black paper.
"I'm horrible at wrapping gifts, but..."
"That's okay. I don't care, it's gonna get ripped of anyway. Wrapping gifts is overrated", she said and he chuckled.
"Yeah."
She sat down and started opening the gift.

When she got it open, she was speechless for a moment, staring at the book in her hand.
"Is that..."
"My old Hobbit. I found in it a storage room. You said you never finished it so...I figured you should give it another try", he said carefully.
"I - James I can't take this! It's yours. And it's like...worth a lot."
"Yeah you can. I gave it to you. I don't really read anymore, but I know how much you love books."
"I - thank you!"
She wrapped her arms around him and he carefully hugged her back.
"Thank you. And I'm...really glad we're good", she mumbled.
"Don't worry about it. And me too", he answered.
She let go off him and looked him in the eyes.
He licked his lips and she really, really wanted to kiss him.

Bucky had to really hold himself back not to kiss her, it literally took all his willpower.
The way she looked at him, with her warm, deep, chocolate brown eyes.
The way her lips were slightly opened.
It almost drove him insane.
She was so close to him, their lips were almost touching anyways.
But before he could just finally do it, he heard a knock at the door.

"Bucky? Ivy?"
Ivy exhaled and Bucky sighed as someone opened the door.
Steve raised his eyebrows as he was looking at her.
"You guys okay?"
"Yeah. Of course", she said.
"Well, Tony was looking for you. And I was too. We didn't get a chance to congratulate you", Steve said smiling and she chuckled.
"I'm coming."

She touched Bucky's arm.
"Thank you, Bucky. We'll talk, alright?"
"Yeah."
He smiled at her as she walked to the living room, then he bit his lip and smiled.
Steve shook his head.
"God, you guys are so into each other, just kiss already!"
"Shut up, Steve."
Steve sighed and grinned.
Bucky smiled.
"She's just...so beautiful, Steve. Inside and out", he said and Steve smiled back.
"Yeah, I know. She is. And she wants to hear it, Buck. From you. Just tell her."
"Yeah yeah, I will. When the time's right."

Sam had gotten her a printed metal plate, with the moonphases on it, which she absolutely loved, Thor had brought her cake from Asgard and she found that it was the most delicious thing she had ever eaten.
Peter gave her a big, fluffy black pillow and a bunch of stickers with gen z humor - Thor, Loki, Steve and Bucky didn't understand a word, but she found it hilarious.
Steve said he wasn't really sure what to get her, so he bought her a small record player.

Ivy stared at him in disbelief.
"I've planned on getting one for ages, how the hell did you know?!", she said surprised and hugged him.
"I don't know, guess I just got lucky", he smiled.
"Thanks, guys. For everything. This is like...the best birthday I've ever had. And not just because of the gifts but...because you're all here. I've never had a birthday with all of my family before. But you are my family. And I can't wait for Wanda, Nat and Clint. We should go out and celebrate", she said.
"Yeah, let's go out!", Sam shouted enthusiastic and Thor gave him a high five.

Ivy giggled and caught Bucky's gaze.
He quickly looked away and she had to smile a little.
He was so adorable.

Loki looked at her.
"I can't believe you still haven't made out yet. He's basically devouring you with his eyes. Just do him already."
"Jesus Christ, Loki!", she said laughing.
"What? You can't say that?"
"No, not really."
"Oh, well. Now it's too late."
"Yeah."
She rolled her eyes and he grinned.
"Happy Birthday?"
She chuckled.
"Yeah, thanks. I'm glad you're back."
"Me too."

"Okay, you can open it", Wanda said and gave her a red envelope.
Nat nodded and sipped on her beer.
They were standing on the balcony, breathing in the fresh air over New York.
Ivy still hated heights, but the view from the tower was too good not to enjoy it from time to time.
She opened it.
"What's that?"
"Thaaat. Is a girl's trip. We're gonna go shopping, and to the spa and all that shit. But out of this damn city", Nat said and Ivy smiled.
"Ugh, I love you two", she said and pulled both of them in for a hug.
"We love you too, happy Birthday", Wanda said with a smile and Ivy sighed.
"I'm so glad to have you two, honestly. I mean, yeah Loki is my best friend, but god if I didn't have you two girls I would freak the fuck out in there."
"Oh yeah, I can imagine", Nat said.
"They can be..a handful", Wanda said and Ivy chuckled.
"Oh yeah."

"So, tell us about Bucky. What's going on? I heard he gave you an old book that's like worth a lot of money", Wanda said impressed.
"Yeah, I couldn't believe it. When we went out, we saw a first edition hobbit in a bookstore. I told him I never finished reading it so he gave me his."
She had to smile.
"He must really like me."
"Yeah, he does! And you like him too!"
"I do! It's just - I don't know. I don't know what it is. I guess I'm...a little afraid, maybe? Of what it means to love someone so...broken? And what if it doesn't work out, it would forever be weird."

"Oh come on, that's the risk in every relationship. I'm literally dating a half robot thingy...I'm still not sure what exactly Vision is", Wanda said and they all giggled.
"Yeah and I'm in that weird love triangle with Steve and the fucking Hulk", Nat giggled and they laughed again.
"I'm sorry, I'm trying to picture the Hulk at the Altar, just destroying the church by accident", Ivy said and Wanda burst out laughing again.

"Do you wanna smash the bride?", Nat said sarcastically and emptied her bottle, while Ivy and Wanda were almost unable to stand from laughing so hard.
To be fair, they were all three pretty drunk.

"Maybe I should just go after Tony, at least he's rich", Ivy sighed.
"That's the spirit. Cheers!", Wanda said and took a shot.
"Fuuck, we gotta stop drinking", Ivy said and they went back inside.

Loki threw a pillow after Ivy, she threw it back and ten seconds later they had started a huge pillow fight with Peter and Scott, who had also stopped by.
"God, you guys are literal children!", Tony shouted annoyed, but instead of stopping, Loki threw a pillow in his face.
He sighed and Ivy giggled.
"Come on, Tony, it's my birthday. Let me have some fun."
He rolled his eyes.
"As long as you don't break anything. And clean up after yourselves!"
"Yes Mr. Stark!", Ivy shouted grinning and squealed when she got hit by another pillow.