pov- imagines

RETURN- B. BARNES

pairings: bucky barnes x reader
warnings: none really
about: you're returning a wedding ring
a/n: this has been in my drafts for the longest time. short because i just posted

the chime of the bell above the door is familiar, reminding you of your last visit a few days ago. the shiny rocks catch the glint of the sun and you stress your bottom lip between your teeth when the memories of the past few days rush into you. they fill you to the brim with a loud feeling, threatening to dribble over the edge.

the older man at the counter recognizes you instantly, and his face breaks out in a smile, rushing behind the display case closest to you. "i remember you!" he cheers in greeting, "i sold you a simple gold wedding band a few days ago! come to tell me the good news?"

your lips curl, "i... need to return it, actually." you dig into your bag, pulling out the small, familiar box you had excitedly walked out with just a few days ago. the man's face drops, eyes following the black box as you set it down in front of him.

"return it?" he repeats dejectedly, his hands not wanting to take it back. "are you— are you sure?" he asks, looking up at you.

you nod, "yes. it's truly beautiful, though." the man nods as well, his eyes flicking down to the box again, sadness he can't help rushing to the heart that was so used to happy stories— especially involving couples like you and the man you talked so fondly about.

"i'm very sorry," he murmurs, finally extending his arm to reach for the engagement ring on the table.

you frown, "no need."

"i really thought he'd say yes," the man continues sadly, taking the ring out to inspect it, his head continues to shake when he holds the ring up, sighing.

"oh, it's not— not like that," you laugh lightly, digging into your purse again to look for something. "'turns out we're a lot more connected than we thought," you smile, taking a shiny band out, "and we both got the idea to propose at the same time," you pull it on your finger, "except when it came to execution," you pause to admire the sapphire adorning your new ring, "well, he beat me to it. although he told me it was in his sock drawer for months, so i think he probably just read my mind."

"i also got the wrong size," you chuckle, " so if you have another one of these in two sizes larger, i'd love to take it home to him."

the man's grin reaches his ears, dropping the small gold hoop into the box to look at you in surprise. "so you're engaged?"

you nod happily, biting your lip in excitement at hearing the words in something other than your whispered rambles and bucky's grin-lidded murmurs. "yes. i am, we're just supposed to announce it tomorrow, so no ring till then," you inform.

"you never told me who the lucky guy was," the man teases, shutting the box closed and pushing it away to put away later.

"his name is bucky," you smile dreamily, twirling the ring around your finger, "he has blue eyes and is an actual giant, but is really just a huge softie."

"bucky," the man repeats, suddenly remembering a man by the same name and with gleaming cerulean eyes coming into his shop nearly a year before, looking around before landing on the very same ring on your finger.