pov- imagines

CRUSH- B. BARNES

pairings: bucky barnes x reader, mentions of sam wilson, steve rogers, and natasha romanoff (all platonic)
warnings: whole lotta fluff
about: bucky and you have a forever crush
a/n: i very much do not love the about, and you can take this as a 40s!reader if that makes more sense.
Second of my installments for jamecember!

bucky's beer is sitting in front of him, untouched and mocking with the way its dripping moisture settles on the wood of the bar table. steve is staring at bucky's blank look, his blue eyes narrowing at his best friend while sam nudges his arm gently, sitting down next to him with two new drinks. he hands him one before looking back at bucky, furrowing his brows and looking back at steve in question, "still?" he wonders aloud, and steve nods, absentmindedly tracing the pad of his finger over his fresh drink.

"buck, is everything okay? it's like you haven't even been here the whole time we've been here."

bucky nearly snaps out of it, nodding distractedly at steve's words while he chases his ideas, feeling so close to having his answer, yet so impossibly far that it makes him frustrated and glare at his drink. "'m fine. just trying to figure something out."

sam raises an eyebrow and shares a look with steve, a small smile making his way onto his face, "maybe we can help oil that android brain of yours, what'cha tryin' to figure out?"

bucky pauses, contemplating the offer before refusing, "it's nothing," he lies, the quiet whirring of his vibranium arm betraying his words.

"is y/n mad at you?" steve asks, eyebrows joining in concern.

bucky shakes his head, "no. no," bucky answers quickly, drifting off before finally giving in to steve's stare, "'was just wondering how good that new restaurant was."

sam raises an eyebrow, "it's okay... nothing you would like."

bucky clears his throat, "what about y/n?"

sam hums in realization, "ah, you want to take y/n on a date," he wags his eyebrows, "why don't you just ask her to look up the menu— since we all know you can't—" bucky scowls, "and see if she likes the food?"

"i can't," bucky insists, and at his friends' requests to know why, bucky can feel an unwanted blush rise to his cheeks when he realizes he'll have to tell them. "it's just— i want this to be a surprise."

sam grins, "special occasion? want a second honeymoon?"

bucky rolls his eyes, the warmth in his face deepening, "i just— she's y/n and i love her. i want this to be a good date for her."

his eyes lighten when he suddenly gets an idea, and steve can nearly see the lightbulb hanging above him brighten slightly. "maybe i can do a picnic. do you think you can ask stark to show a movie for us in the backyard? near the garden," bucky adjures to steve.

"you know you already got the girl, right? there's no need for the fancy, expensive dates to win her over," sam reminds, an easy smile on his lips.

bucky shrugs, "that doesn't matter. she deserves the best, it doesn't matter how long we've been together."

-

it takes bucky two more days to get everything fully figured out, having called in a favor from tony to get the tower's garden—full of colors and blooming flowers thanks to you—decorated for you, and a large monitor set up so you could watch your favorite movie. nobody—including the avengers—was allowed into it as long as you both were outside, so complete privacy was promised, and your favored dishes were already being prepared by the finest chefs—another favor from tony.

now, he only needed to actually ask you.

but the anxiety that curled around his thoughts—as completely unreasonable as it was—was still cutting off his nerve as you walked over to him. he already knew your answer, had already imagined your smile and the warmth of your cheeks while you nodded. he just needed to make that a reality.

the curve of his lips came naturally when you stepped close to him, a light smile already on your face from his close proximity, and your fingers already burning to hold his thanks to the repeated motion of greeting him with a squeeze to his cold hand. "hey bucky," you begin, cheeks burning and teeth beginning to stress at your bottom lip when he smiles at you.

"y/n, i wanted to tell— ask, i mean— well, actually it's more of a request?" bucky's already off to a bad start, and he hasn't even begun asking his question yet. you laugh lightly, looking at him patiently. one of your hands reaches for his, and your touch immediately soothes him.

"do you wanna go out with me today?" he asks finally, and your neck heats, but you nod, a small airy breath leaving your mouth while you respond.

"of course, bucky. you don't need to be so nervous anymore."

bucky disagrees—how is he not supposed to be nervous and when your smile looks like that? when the color of your eyes glimmers in his dreams and your touch is as soft and loving as it is? he wants to stress how the miracle that you and him got together doesn't make him any less in love with you, doesn't make you any less beautiful—doesn't minimize his huge crush on you—but he just smiles at you, face burning because you're smiling at him and your eyes shine with excitement as you ask him about your date. "it's all a surprise, doll," bucky answers, his metal hand looping around your waist when you lean against him, groaning.

"one hint?" you ask with a pout.

"you'll love it," bucky promises, and you nuzzle your head into his chest.

"that's a given. it's with you."

bucky, even after your many honest compliments, still can't help his blush.

-

you're narrowing your eyes at yourself in the mirror when nat walks by your room, doubling back when she realizes what you're doing. "wow," she greets, surprising you. you turn to see her leaning on your doorframe, eyeing your outfit.

"do you like it? bucky's about to pick me up for a date, and i wasn't sure if this was good enough..."

natasha looks at you in bewilderment for a moment before cocking her head, beginning to walk closer to you. "you're serious?" she questions, and you nod. "y/n," she begins, stepping in front of you and putting her hands on your arms. "you could go out in a potato bag and barnes would still look at you like you hung the stars in the sky." you can't help but scoff lightly and look down at yourself again, beginning to question the shoes you're wearing. "y/n, i'm serious. that guy loves you."

"besides," nat starts, dropping her arms to her side while she inspects your jewelry. "you guys are together now, a date usually implies going to mcdonald's to pick up fries and eat them in his car. i wouldn't be surprised if he came in sweatpants," she laughs. you listen to her words and frown, now worried you're overdressed. the knock at your open door cuts off your idea to change for the nth time—which is proven by the clothing and shoes strewn across your floor.

"y/-" bucky stops when his eyes land on you before a dumb grin begins forming on his lips, "you look beautiful."

your worried frown melts into a smile at his words, but you still tug at what you're wearing, "really? i'm not overdressed?— or underdressed?" bucky shakes his head, his eyes still too glued onto your figure to even notice nat in the room. "no, no, you're... you're perfect."

"you guys are so gross," sam whines from behind bucky, "i thought the honeymoon phase would be over by the first five years."

natasha nods, pushing past a distracted bucky to leave the room. "me too," she says, "but nope. even after five years of being married they still act like nervous teenagers in love."

your ring glints under the light while you hook your arm through bucky's offered one, a gentle warmth settled on your ears from the kiss he laid on your knuckles. his own ring shines proudly from its place on his finger, the words engraved on it—yours until the end of the line—hidden from anyone else's view.