𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖊𝖒𝖇𝖊𝖗 | 𝖇𝖚𝖈𝖐𝖞 𝖇𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖊𝖘 𝖝 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗

𝐼𝐼𝐼

Y/N shivered as she stood outside of the library where she had met Bucky just less than a week prior. The sun hadn't totally set yet, but it was nearing darkness, and she was feeling the January chill. She'd made a realisation as she left her apartment half an hour prior: she hadn't organised an actual place where she would go on this date in the adrenaline rush. Her only option was to go back to the library where she had met him, as there was nowhere else that she could think of where he would be at. It wasn't like she could just pull out her phone and text him, as she had forgotten to get his number in the excitement as well. So there she stood, shaking in a flirty hunter green dress with narrow straps that Vee had forced her to buy once she found out about the date, a thin pair of black tights and an equally drafty black jacket that she never remembered buying. She constantly pulled the jacket over her bare shoulders, feeling both self-conscious and like she was going to contract hypothermia if she stood out here for a second longer. Just as she was about to head inside the library, she heard a familiar rich voice from her left.

"Fancy seeing you here, Y/N" Bucky joked, and Y/N realised how their outfits were in very similar colour schemes. She also was grateful that she didn't follow the makeup tutorial Vee had sent her and just went with something very minimalistic, as if she did, she would be dressed far too racy compared to Bucky's casual outfit. The man looked quite handsome, despite the fact that he was dressed so plainly - his hair was slicked back, and his eyes seemed especially mysterious under the fading light.

"I know, it is such a surprise to bump into you!" Y/N giggled back, feeling her cheeks start to heat up at his tentative smile. She immediately took a deep breath in, calming herself down before she embarrassed herself even more. "Thank our lucky stars that we both thought to come here, or else the date would be most likely be ruined."

"I would come back to this library every day, waiting to see if you come back and I could see you again." He promised, and she tried not to swoon herself onto the pavement. This statement would have been creepy if virtually any other guy said it, but when it came out of his lips, Y/N thought it seemed sweet and earnest, like a vow to show that he cared about her. She sighed, hoping it was quiet enough. Her eyes then moved away from his midnight-shaded eyes onto the vivid bouquet that he was gripping in his hand.

"Woah, that's so sweet! What you just said, and the flowers!" She giggled, gently transferring the flowers from Bucky's hands to hers.

Bucky blinked, breaking the slight trance he was in, staring at Y/N. He took a deep breath and muttered something softly under his breath.

"Oh, yeah, I got these for you." He smiled, his voice strained like he was out of breath.  Y/N didn't know if he was shocked that she just took the flowers out of his hands, or if the reason he was so taken aback was due to something else.

"Oh sorry, I just kinda snatched them from you there." She apologised hastily, but Bucky just smiled tenderly and shook his head.

"No need to apologise, I like that about you. You know what you want, and you're not afraid to take it." He leered at Y/N, voice genuine.

She didn't say it, but Bucky's words filled Y/N with joy. In most people's eyes, she wasn't somebody determined and headstrong - she was a fully grown woman, still working an office job and living in one of the cheapest Brooklyn apartments that weren't of terrible quality. She was somebody who settled, somebody who didn't speak up or stand up for herself. She didn't take anything, most people didn't even know that she wanted anything. She took a deep breath that stung her airpipes.

"So, where are we going to go? My guess isn't that we're going on a double date with these lions." Y/N asked, inspired by the fact that Bucky thought that she was so steadfast.

"My theory is that they're best friends, actually," Bucky said, shaking his head and laughing. "Anyway, I know a pretty nice restaurant only a few streets away. Do you like Italian food?" 

Y/N nodded her head, clutching her jacket close to her skin as the wind started to blow forcefully. Bucky's shadow-shielded eyes widened.

"Do you want to borrow my jacket?" He was quick to ask, already taking it off halfway through his sentence, but Y/N waved him off.

"Pssh, of course not. You'll just get hypothermia and I don't think the ER is the most romantic place to finish a first date." Y/N joked, peppering the sentiment with a joke, not wanting to seem too affectionate so early on. Bucky reluctantly put the jacket back on. "So, where's this restaurant?"

"Oh, do you have a car?" Bucky asked, a bit of hope hidden in his voice.

"Nope. You?" Y/N replied, voice equally hopeful.

"Walked here, I only live a few streets away. I imagine you're in the same predicament."

"Exactly. Should we get a taxi? Or an Uber?" Bucky shook his head again.

"I only really asked because you probably wouldn't want to leave your car here. It is really close, I promise. We can walk and talk." He was already pacing in front by the time he had finished his sentence.

"I trust you." Y/N replied, hoping that this was the right decision, and ran to catch up with Bucky. "How are you walking so fast? Slow down for the girl who skipped PE in school over here." She joked.

Bucky blinked like he had just realised something and started to pace at a more human speed. "Sorry."

Soon after, Y/N was back to not being able to catch up with him. He wasn't pacing anymore, at least, but he must have been taking incredibly long strides, or something like that, as their conversations were short and rare due to the fact that she was constantly out of breath. However, Y/N was glad when she realised that Bucky was telling the truth about how close the restaurant was, as she soon was attempting to catch her breath in front of a quaint building with Marcello's painted on a gruff sign in bronze cursive. Meanwhile, Bucky waited patiently for her to enter.

The front of the building had been painted a frothy-white, with nepeta green vines crisscrossing to and fro across the coated brick. Golden pools of candlelight illuminated the crystal-clear windows that painted pictures of a beautifully calm interior. Unfortunately, this whole aesthetic downstairs was completely ruined by another floor or two of ugly, dirty red brick and blackened windows that looked like they had been haphazardly dumped on. Around the side was a rickety, rusted staircase that seemed straight out of West Side Story, completed with caged fire escapes that seemed impossible to open. Marvelling in the complete irony of it all, Y/N soon caught her breath. Watching her scan the messiness, Bucky jumped to defend his recommendation.

"I know the outside is strange, but that doesn't really matter. The experience makes up for it."

Y/N decided to turn the tables and shake her head.

"I like the outside."

Bucky allowed a smile to creep across his lips.

"Same, shall we go in?"

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A/N: just saying that my update schedule has been formed due to the wonderful invention that is school, and I will usually only be updating on weekends. also thank you all so much for the support on the last chapters!!! it means the world to me <3